Kataeb Hezbollah extends pause on US Embassy Baghdad attacks by 5 days — signals conditional restraint

Kataeb Hezbollah's 5-day pause extension on US Embassy attacks in Baghdad is a significant signal at the start of Day 24 — the day the Trump Hormuz ultimatum expires. RESTRAINT SIGNAL: The extension suggests Kataeb Hezbollah (and by extension IRGC direction) is choosing to avoid direct US Embassy provocation during the diplomatic window around the Hormuz deadline. This is the second-front equivalent of Iran's pause in overnight barrages against Israel — a tactical de-escalation on one front while maintaining strategic positioning. DENIAL: The group denied involvement in the Saturday Iraqi intelligence building drone strike that killed an officer — consistent with IRGC-directed framing that PMF groups claim credit selectively based on strategic optics. THREAT RETENTION: 'Will respond if attacked' means the pause is conditional on no US retaliatory strikes against Kataeb Hezbollah positions. This preserves the retaliatory option while signaling temporary restraint. CONTEXT: The 8-attack Baghdad Airport campaign on Day 23 was the highest single-night PMF tempo. This 5-day pause extension covers through ~March 28 — well past the Hormuz ultimatum deadline and into the post-deadline diplomatic landscape.