A senior member of the Iran-backed Iraqi Shi'ite militia, Kataib Hezbollah, was killed on Monday, the militia confirmed.
“With pride and acceptance of God’s will and decree, we announce the martyrdom of Haj Abu Ali al-Askari,” KH announced in a statement.
Askari frequently spoke out against both the US and Israel, particularly during both June's and the current ongoing operations against Iran.
KH chief Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, praised Askari's role "in communicating the group’s positions and messages 'during periods of confrontation.'"
Askari "served as a link between fighters on the ground and the group’s media platforms," Hamidawi added.
Abu Mujahid al-Assaf will assume the spokesperson's role for the militia, Shafaq News cited Hamidawi as stating.
Following the announcement of Askari's death, Katyusha rockets were launched towards the US Embassy in Baghdad on Monday night, and drones were sent into the "Green Zone," where the embassy and other diplomatic buildings are located, security sources told Reuters.
KH is one of the most powerful Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. On January 3, 2020, then-KH chief Abu Ali al-Muhandis was escorting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force archterrorist Qasem Soleimani when they were both killed in a US airstrike near Baghdad airport, ordered by US President Donald Trump.
This is a developing story.