Airstrikes on Iraq’s Shi’ite PMF site kill 10, including Anbar commander

At least 10 fighters were killed, including the Anbar operations commander of Iraq’s Shi’ite Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), in airstrikes targeting a PMF site in the western province of Anbar. Thirty others were reported wounded, security and health sources told Reuters.

The PMF confirmed the death of its Anbar commander, Saad al-Baiji, along with several of his companions. In a statement, the group accused the United States of carrying out the attack, saying a US airstrike struck a command headquarters while personnel were on duty.

The strikes hit the PMF headquarters during a security meeting attended by senior commanders, the sources added.

The PMF, known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi, is an umbrella group of mostly Shi’ite paramilitary factions that has been formally integrated into Iraq’s state security forces. Several of its groups are aligned with Iran.

Since the outbreak of the US–Israeli conflict with Iran in February, Tehran-backed armed groups have launched attacks on US bases in Iraq, raising fears of a wider regional escalation. The conflict has extended beyond Iran’s borders, with Tehran striking Israel and Gulf Arab states hosting US military installations, while Israel has carried out attacks in Lebanon following cross-border fire by Iran-aligned Hezbollah.

By Vafa Guliyeva