Deadly airstrike on PMF in Iraq’s Anbar kills 30, dozens wounded
Around 30 people were killed and dozens wounded after an airstrike targeted positions belonging to Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) between the areas of Akashat and al-Qaim in Anbar province in western Iraq, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported on Thursday.
Following the attack, Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al‑Araji condemned the strike, saying the attack on the PMF in al-Qaim constitutes “a blatant aggression and a violation of sovereignty.”
In a post on X, al-Araji said: “We strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack that targeted the Popular Mobilization Forces in al-Qaim, which led to the martyrdom and injury of dozens of our heroic security forces.”
He added that “the bombing constitutes a blatant aggression and a violation of sovereignty,” offering condolences to the Popular Mobilization Forces and to the families of the victims, while wishing a swift recovery for those wounded.
Iraqi command condemns repeated violations
Iraq’s Joint Operations Command, affiliated with the Security Media Cell, also condemned the “brutal and blatant attacks” against PMF fighters while they were performing their national duties alongside Iraqi security forces.
In a statement, the command warned that “the continuation of these violations and the systematic and repeated aggression, without distinguishing targets, contributes to complicating the situation, threatening social peace, and undermining the foundations of security and stability.”
The command added that the attacks have sparked “great anger and resentment among our patient people,” holding the responsible parties fully accountable for the dangerous consequences. It noted that the strike followed previous attacks in the district of Suwayra and other sites and headquarters across the country.
It said the attacks were “a blatant violation of national sovereignty and a direct targeting of Iraq’s dignity,” as well as a clear assault on security forces that have demonstrated the highest levels of professionalism and national commitment in protecting the country.
The strike comes as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has escalated military operations against “enemy bases in Iraq and the region,” in response to US and Israeli attacks on Iraq and across the region.
Iraqi Resistance pounds US sites
Earlier in the week, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said its fighters carried out 31 operations against US occupation bases in Iraq and across the region over the past 24 hours using dozens of drones and missiles.
The group said that the latest operations bring the total number of attacks conducted within 12 days to 291.
According to the statement, the operations have resulted in the deaths of 13 American personnel and the injury of dozens more, including some described as severe. The group added that further details about the operations would be released later.
The Washington Post, citing an internal US State Department assessment, has also said that parts of the US embassy compound in Riyadh that were struck by a drone attack were described as “beyond repair”.
