U.S. and Saudi Arabia Strikes Kill at Least 10 in Iraq

At least 10 members of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an alliance of paramilitary groups, were killed in joint U.S. and Saudi Arabian airstrikes on their bases, according to two alliance sources speaking to AFP. The strikes also injured an unknown number of others and caused material damage.

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Many of our members were killed and others injured due to these attacks, and material damage was also caused to several buildings and property.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia confirmed they struck Iran-backed militants in Iraq. They stated the action was a response to recent attacks targeting U.S. forces and Saudi oil facilities. The PMF, also known as Hashed al-Shaabi, described the strikes as a "dangerous escalation, a violation of Iraqi sovereignty, and an attack on its official security institutions."

The most lethal strike occurred in Nineveh province, where at least 10 PMF members died. Another PMF official confirmed the initial casualty figures, with both officials speaking on condition of anonymity. The PMF, established in 2014 to combat ISIS, is now integrated into Iraq's armed forces, though many Iran-backed groups within it operate independently.

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The strikes targeted positions belonging to the alliance in several provinces, with the deadliest attack occurring in Nineveh province, where at least 10 members were killed.

These strikes followed Riyadh's announcement that its forces intercepted drones targeting oil facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia, blaming Iran-backed groups in Iraq. However, these groups dismissed the Saudi accusations as "fabricated" and warned Saudi Arabia against attacking Iraq. The "Iraqi Islamic Resistance," an alliance of pro-Iranian armed groups, has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks on U.S. bases in the region but has not claimed any attacks since the recent escalation of conflict between the U.S. and Iran.

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dangerous escalation, a violation of Iraqi sovereignty, and an attack on its official security institutions.

Iraq, a key ally to both Washington and Tehran, has long served as an indirect battleground for their rivalry. The new Iraqi Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, who came to power with U.S. backing, has pledged to disarm pro-Iranian armed groups but faces resistance from powerful factions. Al-Zaidi recently visited both the U.S. and Iran.

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fabricated