An Iraqi television station reported on Tuesday that a US airstrike targeting security headquarters in the Babil province, approximately 100 kilometers south of Baghdad, resulted in the death of a member of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces and injuries to 18 other personnel, including security forces and militia members.
Al-Ahd television, affiliated with the Shiite group Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq led by Sheikh Qais Khazali, stated, “One member of the Popular Mobilization Forces was killed and 18 security force members were injured, including 6 from the militia, due to an American aggression targeting security headquarters in Babil province.”
In recent weeks, US forces have targeted three Popular Mobilization Forces sites in Abu Ghraib, Jurf al-Nasr (Al-Sakhar), and Kirkuk province, resulting in 15 deaths and about 14 injuries. These actions were in response to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq’s attacks on Iraqi military bases housing US logistical support and training forces.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced earlier on Tuesday that US forces conducted strikes on three facilities used by “Hezbollah Brigades” and their affiliated groups in Iraq. Austin said in a statement, “These precise strikes were a response to a series of attacks against American personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iran-sponsored militias, including an attack by Iran-affiliated Hezbollah Brigades and their groups on the Erbil Air Base, which injured three Americans, one critically,” according to CNN.
Austin emphasized, “We will not hesitate to take necessary actions to defend the United States, our forces, and our interests. There is no higher priority than that.” He added, “While we do not seek to escalate conflict in the region, we are fully committed and prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and facilities.”
The Pentagon has reported a significant increase in attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria, with the number rising to 23. This escalation in attacks occurred in the span of two weeks, amid growing unrest in the Middle East. These incidents have involved militant groups targeting U.S. and coalition bases with rocket and drone attacks. The U.S. military has responded to these attacks by employing robust defenses, successfully disrupting many of them, and ensuring that most did not reach their intended targets. However, it wasn’t immediately clear whether any of the new attacks resulted in additional injuries to American personnel.
Moreover, the U.S. military’s presence in Iraq, which includes around 2,500 soldiers, is part of an international coalition aimed at combating the remnants of ISIL. The escalation of attacks against U.S. interests and the subsequent American response have been a cause for concern in terms of Iraq’s sovereignty and regional stability. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi condemned the U.S. air attacks on Iran-backed armed groups, describing them as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and national security.
