ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq- The Iraqi pro-Iran Kataib Hezbollah (KH) on Monday said it was extending its temporary pause on attacks on the US embassy in Baghdad for five more days after the initial Eid al-Fitr ceasefire expired, warning that any violations during this period will be met with a response.

According to a statement issued by Abu Mujahid al-Aasaf, KH’s security official, the extension would allow time to address what the group described as ongoing violations, adding that a mediator would be informed of how KH intends to respond, including incidents it linked to broader regional tensions.

The Iran-aligned armed group reiterated its demand for the full withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq, stressing that it would not allow US forces to retain weapons or air defense systems outside their bases. It warned that any refusal to disarm would be met with force.

The statement also criticized Iraqi political leaders who oppose attacks on US forces, accusing them of ignoring violations of Iraq’s sovereignty while condemning strikes on Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) sites.

It added that weapons held by armed factions are “the weapon of the people,” rejecting calls for disarmament and warning against what it described as interference by “agents” or foreign-backed actors.

The group on Thursday announced a five day halt to attacks on the US embassy following days of heavy strikes on Baghdad’s Green Zone.

The decision came after attacks earlier that week targeted the US embassy and the Royal Tulip Al-Rasheed Hotel, which hosts several diplomatic missions, drawing strong condemnation from the Iraqi government.

Following the ceasefire announcement, reports indicated that US embassy staff, coordination personnel, and NATO personnel were evacuated from the Green Zone.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani later visited the Popular Mobilization Commission headquarters, defending the PMF against accusations of acting outside state authority and emphasizing its role in combating the Islamic State (ISIS), while tensions remained high despite the temporary halt in attacks.