Fifteen fighters from the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) died early Tuesday in an airstrike attributed to the United States that targeted an operations center in Anbar province in western Iraq, while six Peshmerga fighters from Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region were killed in two separate Iranian ballistic missile attacks. The simultaneous casualties across different regions and the attribution to different foreign powers underscores the complexity of Iraq’s position as a theater of conflict between multiple actors in the broader Middle East war.
The Iraqi government responded to the attacks by summoning both the American chargé d’affaires and Iranian ambassador for formal protests, and granted the PMF and other security forces authorization to exercise “self-defense” against future attacks.
Deadliest Strike on PMF Since War Began
According to official casualty figures announced for strikes on Iraq since the war began on February 28, the airstrike on the PMF in Anbar province represents the deadliest single incident. The strike killed 14 fighters along with Saad Dawi, operations commander for Anbar province in the PMF.
A PMF source told AFP that the bombing occurred during “a meeting of commanders” at the Habbaniyah base in Anbar. The targeting of a command meeting suggests either sophisticated intelligence collection or a deliberate decision to strike at senior PMF leadership.
Implications for PMF Leadership
The killing of Saad Dawi, a senior operational commander, represents a significant blow to PMF command structure in Anbar, one of the largest provinces geographically and a strategically important area bordering Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
First Peshmerga Casualties in Attacks
The attacks on Peshmerga forces in the Kurdistan region represent the first casualties inflicted on these forces since the war began. The Kurdish Regional Government’s Ministry of Peshmerga reported that six Peshmerga fighters were killed in two separate attacks on positions in Erbil province on the border areas.
According to the ministry statement: “Early today, in two separate incidents, the headquarters of the Seventh Infantry Battalion on the first axis, and forces from the Fifth Infantry Battalion on the Soran border, were subjected to treacherous and cowardly hostile acts far removed from all humanitarian values and principles of good neighborliness, when they were targeted by six Iranian ballistic missiles.”
Peshmerga Response and Sovereignty
The Peshmerga ministry statement emphasized “our sovereign and legitimate right to retaliate with deterrent response against any transgression or aggression targeting our people and land.” The strong language suggests the Kurdish regional government views the Iranian strikes as a direct threat and intends to respond.
The ministry reported that the attack resulted in “the martyrdom of 6 Peshmerga heroes and the wounding of 30 others.”
Context of Attacks on Iraq Since War Began
Since the Middle East war extended to Iraq, PMF positions and Iraqi armed factions loyal to Tehran have come under airstrikes attributed to the United States and Israel, while attacks carried out by Iraqi factions target American interests. Iran has conducted strikes against opposition Kurdish groups in northern Iraq.
Neither Washington nor Tehran immediately commented on the attacks attributed to them.
Nature and Scale of Iraqi Casualties
The Anbar airstrike represents a significant escalation in American military operations against Iraqi armed forces. The targeting of a command meeting suggests deliberate operational planning rather than general strikes on infrastructure.
The simultaneous Iranian strikes on Peshmerga positions indicate Iranian determination to target Kurdish forces aligned with the United States, expanding the theater of conflict within Iraqi territory.
Iraqi Government’s Emergency Response
Iraqi security authorities reported that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, as “General Commander of the Armed Forces,” convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council following the Anbar airstrike.
The official Security Media Cell statement described the Anbar strike as a “heinous crime targeting the undermining of Iraq’s security and stability.”
Authorization of Self-Defense
Later Tuesday evening, Iraqi authorities granted significant authorization to the PMF and other security forces. According to Iraq’s official news agency, the National Security Council “authorized the Popular Mobilization Forces and other security agencies to exercise the right of retaliation and self-defense in confronting military attacks targeting their positions” since the war began on February 28.
Significance of Self-Defense Authorization
A PMF official told AFP that “the PMF has the capability to down many enemy aircraft, but it did not have authorization to open fire. However, after being formally authorized to defend itself, it will defend itself against American and Israeli attacks.”
This authorization represents a significant escalation in PMF authority and suggests the Iraqi government is abandoning previous restraint on PMF military operations.
Additional Attack in Mosul
Later Tuesday, the PMF reported that its office in the city of Mosul in northern Iraq was struck by what it described as “Zionist-American bombing,” resulting in destruction of the facility and wounding of one PMF fighter.
The PMF source told AFP that this location was the “headquarters of Mosul operations commander in the PMF.”
However, a security official told AFP that the location was actually a “guest house” where PMF chief Falih al-Fayyadh stays when visiting Mosul. The official confirmed that al-Fayyadh was not in the city Tuesday.
Discrepancies in Reporting
The different accounts regarding the Mosul facility illustrate the difficulty in obtaining accurate information about military targets and casualties amid ongoing conflict and competing narratives.
Iraqi Diplomatic Responses
Baghdad announced Tuesday evening that it intends to summon both the American chargé d’affaires and Iranian ambassador to lodge formal protests over the strikes.
Sabah al-Nomani, spokesperson for the General Command of the Armed Forces, stated in a statement that the National Security Council decided in an emergency meeting that “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take necessary arrangements to summon the American chargé d’affaires and Iranian ambassador to deliver them formal protest notes regarding the attacks targeting PMF positions in Anbar province and other areas, as well as positions of the Kurdistan Region Guard (Peshmerga) in Erbil.”
Diplomatic Significance
The simultaneous summoning of both American and Iranian diplomats reflects Iraq’s attempt to maintain a balancing act between the two powers, neither of which fully respects Iraqi sovereignty.
Background on PMF
The Popular Mobilization Forces is an alliance of factions established in 2014 to combat the Islamic State organization. It was later incorporated into the Iraqi military institutional structure and became subordinate to the Armed Forces, though many brigades remain loyal to Iran rather than the Iraqi government.
The PMF also includes brigades belonging to armed factions loyal to Iran that operate independently, forming what is known as the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq.”
Dual Allegiances in Iraqi Forces
The presence of Iran-aligned factions within the PMF creates complications for Iraqi sovereignty and makes Iraq a battleground for Iranian-American competition.
PMF Demands for Political Action
The PMF issued a statement charging political forces in Iraq with their “full responsibilities in confronting these repeated American violations, taking clear and decisive positions that preserve the country’s sovereignty and end these serious transgressions.”
This language suggests the PMF is pressuring the Iraqi government to take stronger action against American operations.
Context of Ongoing Military Operations
Pentagon acknowledged Thursday for the first time that combat helicopters conducted raids against Iran-backed factions in Iraq. This admission came after weeks of PMF and Iraqi government denials of American military operations on Iraqi territory.
American and Iranian Operations in Iraq
Iraqi factions loyal to Iran, including those operating under the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” banner, conduct daily attacks using drones and rockets against what they describe as “enemy bases” in Iraq and the region.
These operations continue despite diplomatic initiatives and announcements of peace talks, suggesting fundamental disagreement between the factions about whether negotiations should pause military operations.
Anbar Province Strategic Importance
Anbar is Iraq’s largest province geographically, with a predominantly Sunni population. It is adjacent to borders with Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Its vast desert is the site of ongoing operations by the PMF against remaining cells of the Islamic State organization, which was defeated in 2017 but continues low-level operations.
Security Challenges in Anbar
The province faces multiple security threats including remaining IS cells, criminal activities, and tribal conflicts, making it difficult for the Iraqi government to maintain control and prevent foreign forces from operating there.Conclusion:
The attacks on both PMF and Peshmerga forces in Iraq, attributed to the United States and Iran respectively, demonstrate how Iraq has become a secondary battlefield in the broader Middle East conflict. The Iraqi government’s efforts to balance between the two powers through diplomatic protests while simultaneously authorizing PMF self-defense reflect the impossible position of a weak state caught between larger regional powers. The authorization for PMF self-defense suggests escalating Iraqi assertiveness in response to foreign military operations on its territory, potentially leading to more direct confrontations between American and Iranian-backed forces within Iraq.
