Iraq: US-Backed Troops Launch Deadly Strike on Popular Mobilization Forces in Latest Escalation of Tensions

On Friday night, an airstrike targeting the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) military base 40 kilometers south of Baghdad resulted in the death of at least one person and injuries to 20 others. The attack, which is still being investigated, hit the main entrance to the base and one of PMF offices. The base houses Iraqi military and police, as well as fighters from the PMF, which is recognized as a formal security force by the Iraqi authorities.

The perpetrator of the attack remains unknown, with both militia sources and international coalition led by the United States denying involvement. While some sources attributed the bombing to the United States, Washington denied any role in it. Israeli sources also denied their participation in the attack and expressed readiness to respond to whoever is behind it.

In recent months, tensions have been escalating in the region due to Iran’s direct attack on Israeli soil and uncertainty over a potential Israeli ground offensive in Gaza. This incident adds to that broader context of regional conflicts and highlights complex dynamics between various armed groups and international actors involved in ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, part of a pro-Iranian militia group known as Axis of Resistance, has been targeted by US forces such as Al Nuba and Kataib Hizbul in recent months. These groups have carried out numerous attacks against US troops in country