Airstrikes on Iraq’s Shi’ite PMF site kill 10 including Anbar commander

Published 24 Mar, 2026 09:11am 1 min read
– Reuters
– Reuters

Airstrikes targeting a site belonging to Iraq’s Shi’ite Popular Mobilisation Forces in the ​western province of Anbar killed at least ‌10 fighters, including the PMF’s Anbar operations commander, and wounded 30 others, security and health sources told Reuters early ​on Tuesday.

The PMF confirmed in a statement the ​death of its Anbar commander, Saad al-Baiji, and ⁠several of his companions.

It accused the United ​States of carrying out the attack, saying a ​US airstrike targeted a command headquarters while personnel were on duty.

The strikes targeted the PMF headquarters during a security meeting attended ​by senior commanders, the sources added.

The PMF, known ​in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi, is an umbrella group of ‌mostly ⁠Shi’ite paramilitary factions that was formally integrated into Iraq’s state security forces and includes several groups aligned with Iran.

Tehran-backed armed groups have launched attacks on US ​bases in Iraq ​since the ⁠outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran in February, raising fears of a ​wider regional escalation.

The conflict has spilt ​beyond Iran’s ⁠borders, with Tehran launching strikes on Israel and Gulf Arab states hosting US military installations, while Israel ⁠has ​carried out attacks in Lebanon following ​cross-border fire by Iran-aligned Hezbollah.

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