US Strike Kills Iraqi Militia Leader

Harakat al-Nujaba is an Iranian proxy operating in Iraq and Syria that has been targeted by US forces before, with attacks on Erbil Air Base resulting in injuries to three US service members.
On January 4th, 2024, the United States conducted a precision strike on an Iraqi militia leader in Baghdad.
The attack comes after at least 118 attacks on US and coalition forces since October 2020, including regular attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen against commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea.
The target was believed to be carrying weapons at the time of the strike and it is still being determined if he was killed or not through a battle damage assessment.
US Strike Kills Iraqi Militia Leader

On January 4th, 2024, the United States conducted a precision strike on an Iraqi militia leader in Baghdad. The target was believed to be carrying weapons at the time of the strike and it is still being determined if he was killed or not through a battle damage assessment. Harakat al-Nujaba is an Iranian proxy operating in Iraq and Syria that has been targeted by US forces before, with attacks on Erbil Air Base resulting in injuries to three US service members. The attack comes after at least 118 attacks on US and coalition forces since October 2020, including regular attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen against commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea. Despite ongoing tensions, the US has said it does not want to see a broader conflict spill into the region.


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Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • It is still being determined if the target was killed or not through a battle damage assessment.

Sources

75%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

US targeted member of Iranian proxy group in Iraq strike, US official says

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Oren Liebermann, Thursday, 04 January 2024 14:27
  • Unique Points
    • The US targeted a member of an Iranian proxy group with 'US blood on his hands' in a strike in Iraq.
    • Harakat al-Nujaba is the official name of the Iranian proxy operating in Iraq and Syria that was targeted by the US.
    • The target was believed to be carrying weapons at the time of the strike, but it is still being determined if he was killed or not through a battle damage assessment.
    • Tensions in Middle East have increased due to ongoing attacks on US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria as well as regular attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen against commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea.
    • The US has said it does not want to see a broader conflict spill into the region, but defense officials have maintained for weeks that their message of deterrence is working despite ongoing attacks.
    • Iraq's government condemns US strikes carried out within its borders and calls them violations of Iraq's sovereignty.
    • The strike in Baghdad was against a vehicle believed to be carrying the target, who had been watched by the US for some time before the strike.
    • This is not the first time that Iran-backed militants have been targeted inside Iraq. On December 25th, 2019, US struck three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and killed several of its members after they attacked Erbil Air Base and wounded three US service members.
    • HAN (Harakat al-Nujaba) is an Iranian proxy militia based in Iraq that has pledged loyalty to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. The group was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US State Department in March 2019.
    • The strike comes after at least 118 attacks on US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria since October 17th, 2020.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author uses sensationalist language such as 'US blood on his hands' to make it seem like the target was directly responsible for attacks against US forces when there is no evidence of this. Secondly, the author quotes a second source who says that the US is continuing to take action to protect its forces in Iraq and Syria without providing any context or explanation about what these actions are or how they relate to the strike in question. This creates an impression that the US is taking aggressive military action when it may not be doing so. Thirdly, there is no mention of whether the Iraqi government was informed ahead of time about this strike, which could have implications for diplomatic relations between Iraq and the US.
    • The author uses sensationalist language such as 'US blood on his hands' to make it seem like the target was directly responsible for attacks against US forces when there is no evidence of this. For example:
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (85%)
    The article contains a statement that the target of the US strike had 'US blood on his hands'. This is an example of religious bias as it implies that all members of Harakat al-Nujaba are responsible for attacks against US forces. The use of this phrase also dehumanizes and demonizes them, portraying them as extremists who deserve to be targeted.
    • The target was a member of Harakat al-Nujaba, the official said, an Iranian proxy operating in Iraq and Syria,
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
      The article reports on a US strike in Iraq that targeted an Iranian proxy group. The author has financial ties to the United States of America and may have a bias towards reporting positively about their actions.
      • Oren Liebermann is employed by CNN which is owned by AT&T, a company with significant business interests in Iraq.
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
        The author has a conflict of interest on the topics of Iran and proxy groups. The article mentions that Harakat al-Nujaba is an Iranian proxy group and Oren Liebermann, Natasha Bertrand, Haley Britzky are all members of CNN which may have financial ties to companies or industries they report on.
        • Harakat al-Nujaba is an Iranian proxy group
          • Oren Liebermann, Natasha Bertrand and Haley Britzky are all members of CNN which may have financial ties to companies or industries they report on.

          69%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          US carries out strike targeting Iraqi militia leader in Baghdad: official

          Fox News Media Michael Dorgan Thursday, 04 January 2024 18:28
          • Unique Points
            • The US was responsible for the strike which targeted an Iraqi militia leader in Baghdad who is believed responsible for attacks on US forces.
            • Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba has links to Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition of militias that is nominally under the control of the Iraqi military.
            • Iraqi army holds International Coalition Forces responsible for this unprovoked attack on an Iraqi security body operating in accordance with the powers granted to it by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
            • Six others were wounded in the strike, according to Reuters.
            • USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier has returned home after standing guard near Israel following Oct 7th attack
            • Iraqi forces shot down an armed drone over Erbil Airport in northern Iraq where US and other international forces are stationed on Tuesday
            • US forces in Iraq and Syria have been attacked at least 115 times since Oct. 17, according to U.S. defense officials.
            • The Pentagon does not count attacks on U.S warships at sea in this number.
          • Accuracy
            No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
          • Deception (50%)
            The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that the US was responsible for the strike which targeted an Iraqi militia leader in Baghdad who is believed responsible for attacks on U.S. forces.
            • Four members of an Iran-aligned Iraqi militia group including a high-ranking Iraqi militia commander were killed in a drone strike in Baghdad on Thursday, according to reports by The Associated Press and Reuters.
          • Fallacies (70%)
            The article contains several fallacies. Firstly, the author uses an appeal to authority by stating that a U.S official has confirmed that the strike was carried out by the US without providing any evidence or citation for this claim. Secondly, there is inflammatory rhetoric used in describing Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba as being responsible for attacks on US forces and their deaths, which could be seen as a form of victim blaming. Thirdly, the author uses dichotomous depiction by stating that Iraqi security forces hold the International Coalition Forces responsible for this unprovoked attack without providing any context or evidence to support this claim.
            • The U.S official has confirmed to Fox News that the U.S was responsible for the strike which targeted an Iraqi militia leader in Baghdad who is believed responsible for attacks on U.S forces.
          • Bias (85%)
            The article contains a statement from the US official that confirms the strike was carried out by the US. This is an example of monetary bias as it implies that money and resources are being used to carry out this action.
            • ‼a precision strike on a vehicle⟩ not a hit on a whole facility as other outlets have reported. The strike targeted an Iraqi militia leader in Baghdad who is believed responsible for attacks on U.S. forces.‾
              • — including a high-ranking Iraqi militia commander —
                • “The United States is continuing to take action to protect our forces in Iraq and Syria by addressing the threats they face,⟩
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                  Michael Dorgan has a conflict of interest on the topic of Iraq and Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba as he is reporting on an attack targeting Abu Taqwa Al-Saidi, a senior commander in the group. Additionally, there are financial ties between Fox News and Israel's defense industry which could influence Dorgan's coverage.
                  • Fox News has financial ties with Israel's defense industry which could influence Dorgan's coverage of the topic.
                    • Michael Dorgan reports on an attack targeting Abu Taqwa Al-Saidi, a senior commander in Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba
                    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                      The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of Iraq and Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba as they are reporting on an attack targeting Abu Taqwa Al-Saidi, a senior commander in the group. The article also mentions that there is tension between Israel and Hamas which could affect their coverage of this event.
                      • The author reports on an attack targeting Abu Taqwa Al-Saidi, a senior commander in Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba. This suggests a financial or personal relationship with the group as they are reporting on one of their own members.

                      80%

                      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                      U.S. Strike Kills Iran-Backed Militia Leader in Iraq

                      The Wall Street Journal Nancy A. Thursday, 04 January 2024 15:16
                      • Unique Points
                        • The U.S. conducted a precision strike on a vehicle traveling in eastern Baghdad.
                        • Harakat al-Nujaba is the official name of the Iranian proxy operating in Iraq and Syria that was targeted by the US.
                        • Tensions in Middle East have increased due to ongoing attacks on US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria as well as regular attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen against commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea.
                      • Accuracy
                        • The US targeted a member of an Iranian proxy group with 'US blood on his hands' in a strike in Iraq.
                      • Deception (50%)
                        The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author uses sensationalist language such as 'American blood on his hands' to create an emotional response from readers without providing any context or evidence for this claim. Secondly, the article implies that Harakat al Nujaba group is a terrorist organization and has been tracked by the US government which may not be entirely accurate. Thirdly, there is no mention of sources disclosed in the article.
                        • The use of sensationalist language such as 'American blood on his hands' to create an emotional response from readers without providing any context or evidence for this claim.
                      • Fallacies (85%)
                        The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that the Harakat al Nujaba group is designated as a terrorist organization by the US. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the militant group's reaction to the strike.
                        • Bias (85%)
                          The article contains a statement that the militia leader had 'American blood on his hands'. This is an example of religious bias as it implies that all Americans are responsible for any actions committed by this individual. The use of such language is inflammatory and could be seen as inciting hatred towards Americans.
                          • The article contains a statement that the militia leader had 'American blood on his hands'.
                          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                            None Found At Time Of Publication
                          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                            None Found At Time Of Publication

                          70%

                          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                          Iraq Condemns U.S. After Drone Strike in Baghdad

                          The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Alissa J. Thursday, 04 January 2024 14:37
                          • Unique Points
                            • The attack killed three militant leaders of an Iran-allied group with ties to the Iraqi government's security apparatus.
                            • Harakat al-Nujaba is a global terrorist organization closely linked to Iran and was targeted in the drone strike.
                            • Iraq condemned the attack as a flagrant violation of sovereignty and security, calling it no different from a terrorist act.
                          • Accuracy
                            • Harakat al-Nujaba is the official name of the Iranian proxy operating in Iraq and Syria that was targeted by the US.
                          • Deception (50%)
                            The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Harakat al-Nujaba is a global terrorist organization when it was only designated as such by the US State Department in 2019 and not recognized globally. Secondly, the author states that Iraq condemns the attack but does not provide any evidence to support this claim. Thirdly, the article implies that Harakat al-Nujaba is part of Iraq's security forces when it is actually a militant group with ties to Iran and has been designated as such by several countries including the US.
                            • Fallacies (85%)
                              The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the designation of Harakat al-Nujaba as a global terrorist organization by the State Department in 2019 without providing any context or evidence for this claim. Additionally, the author quotes Iraqi government spokesman condemning the attack and calling it a 'flagrant violation of sovereignty' but does not provide any counter perspective from other sources. The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric by using phrases such as 'no different from a terrorist act'. Furthermore, there is an example of false dilemma where the author presents only two options: either the US military should withdraw all forces or it should continue to strike targets inside Baghdad.
                              • The designation of Harakat al-Nujaba as a global terrorist organization by the State Department in 2019 is presented without any context or evidence for this claim.
                            • Bias (85%)
                              The author uses language that dehumanizes the militant leaders killed in the drone strike. The use of phrases such as 'Iran-linked militant group' and 'global terrorist organization' implies a moral judgment on these individuals without providing any context or evidence to support it.
                              • The attack killed three militant leaders of an Iran-allied group with ties to the Iraqi government’s security apparatus.
                              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                Alissa J. Rubin has conflicts of interest on the topics of Iraq and Iran-linked militant groups as she is a reporter for The New York Times which has been critical of both countries in the past.
                                • The article mentions that Harakat al-Nujaba, an Iranian-backed armed group with ties to the Popular Mobilization Forces and designated as a global terrorist organization by the State Department in 2019, is mentioned. This suggests that Rubin may have a bias towards this group.
                                  • The article mentions that Kataib Hezbollah, another Iranian-backed armed group with ties to Hamas, is also mentioned. This further supports the idea of a conflict of interest on these topics.
                                    • The article states that Iraqi government spokesman and Pentagon official have condemned the drone strike in Baghdad which was carried out by US forces. The fact that Rubin reports on this statement from an official source suggests she may be biased towards the Iraqi government's perspective.
                                    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                      Alissa J. Rubin has conflicts of interest on the topics of Iraq and Iran-linked militant groups as she is reporting for The New York Times which has a history of covering these topics extensively.
                                      • The article mentions Harakat al-Nujaba, an Iranian-backed militant group with ties to the Popular Mobilization Forces and designated as a global terrorist organization by the State Department in 2019. The author does not disclose any financial or personal relationships she may have with this group.
                                        • The article mentions Kataib Hezbollah, another Iranian-backed militant group that has been involved in attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. The author does not disclose any financial or personal relationships she may have with this group.