At least 20 fighters from the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a pro-government Shia militia coalition, have been killed and 32 others injured in joint airstrikes launched by the United States and Saudi Arabia across at least seven provinces in Iraq.
Qatar-based news outlet Al Jazeera confirmed the development in a report on Wednesday (July 29).
According to the report, US and Saudi warplanes targeted multiple military sites in the capital, Baghdad, as well as in Wasit, Ninawa, Basra, Kirkuk, Karbala, and Diyala. The state-backed paramilitary force stated that these casualties reflect initial estimates and the figures may rise as field assessments and search operations continue.
Background and Extent of Damage
The operation was jointly conducted by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Royal Saudi Air Force. Authorities stated that the strikes were executed in retaliation for a series of drone attacks launched by Iran-backed groups over the preceding 72 hours.
The joint airstrikes inflicted heavy damage on several key PMF strategic buildings, military vehicles, and significant caches of weapons and equipment.
Infringement on Sovereignty & Iraqi Government Response
Local authorities condemned the military operation, calling it a flagrant violation of Iraqi law enforcement and national sovereignty. The Iraqi government has convened a high-level emergency meeting to assess the situation and determine its next course of action.
