A deadly airstrike hit a military base operated by the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) 40 kilometers south of Baghdad, resulting in one death and 20 injuries. The PMF, a pro-Iran paramilitary structure, reported that three drones targeted the main entrance and one of their offices at the base. The facility hosts Iraqi military, police, and PMF fighters, recognized as a formal security force by the Iraqi authorities.
The attack, which occurred the day after Israeli bombings in Iran, remains without a confirmed perpetrator. While militia sources attributed it to the United States, both Washington and the international coalition have denied involvement. The US Central Command and Israeli sources refuted claims of responsibility, expressing intentions to support their Iraqi partners and condemning the attack.
The PMF militias, including Al Nuba and Kataib Hizbul, have been targeted by the United States in recent months. These militias are part of the pro-Iranian Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which has conducted numerous attacks against US troops in the region. The Islamic Resistance operates within the Axis of Resistance, influenced by Iran, and has carried out actions against Israel and the US to demand the end of Israeli offensives in Gaza.
The attack on the PMF base in Iraq occurs amidst heightened regional tensions, following Iran’s direct attack on Israel. Iran’s response to an Israeli air strike on Damascus resulted in casualties among the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The situation is further complicated by the potential Israeli ground offensive in Rafah, south of Gaza, where displaced Gazans seek refuge from the conflict.
The ongoing attacks by paramilitary forces in Iraq pose challenges for the Baghdad government, which maintains diplomatic ties with the US while criticizing attacks on US bases. Amid negotiations for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq, tensions in the region continue to escalate. The environment of uncertainty underscores the need for dialogue and de-escalation to prevent further violence and instability in the region.