Strike on Iran-aligned paramilitary headquarters raises fears of wider regional escalation amid Middle East war
Screengrab. PHOTO: REUTERS
Airstrikes targeting a site belonging to Iraq’s Shia Popular Mobilisation Forces in the western province of Anbar killed at least 10 fighters, including the PMF’s Anbar operations commander, and wounded 30 others, security and health sources told Reuters early on Tuesday.
The PMF confirmed in a statement the death of its Anbar commander, Saad al-Baiji, and several of his companions. It accused the United States of carrying out the attack, saying a US airstrike targeted a command headquarters while personnel were on duty.
The strikes targeted the PMF headquarters during a security meeting attended by senior commanders, the sources added.
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The PMF, known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi, is an umbrella group of mostly Shia paramilitary factions that was formally integrated into Iraq’s state security forces and includes several groups aligned with Iran.
Tehran-backed armed groups have launched attacks on US bases in Iraq since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran in February, raising fears of a wider regional escalation.
The conflict has spilled beyond Iran’s borders, with Tehran launching strikes on Israel and Gulf Arab states hosting US military installations. At the same time, Israel has carried out attacks in Lebanon following cross-border fire by Iran-aligned Hezbollah.
