Casualties in Attacks on Popular Mobilization Forces Headquarters in Western Iraq
Airstrikes targeting Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq's Anbar province resulted in multiple casualties, with reports of at least 10 to 20 fatalities.
In a significant military operation, airstrikes targeted three headquarters of the 19th Brigade of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) situated in the Al-Qaim area of Anbar province in western Iraq. Reports indicate that at least ten individuals were killed, with some local media estimating the death toll to reach around twenty. The strikes occurred early Thursday morning, yet there was no immediate comment from the Iraqi authorities regarding this incident, raising concerns about the oversight and responses to such military actions.
In addition to the incident in Al-Qaim, there were separate reports of an attack on a PMF base in Kirkuk, where at least two individuals lost their lives, according to French news agency AFP. An Iraqi security official confirmed this separate attack, noting that it caused significant damage, including a fire that erupted at the site. Operations for search and rescue were reportedly still ongoing at the time of the report, while conflicting numbers of casualties were provided by officials affiliated with the PMF.
The attacks have provoked strong reactions from various factions within Iraq, particularly from the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq movement, which condemned the airstrikes as a blatant disregard for Iraqi lives. This incident illustrates the ongoing tensions and volatile security situation in Iraq, with the PMF often being a focal point of such conflicts, reflecting the broader sectarian and political unrest in the region.