Iraq
Mourners march with the casket of a slain member of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) during a funerary procession in Baghdad on March 8, 2026. File photo: AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Six people were killed in two separate strikes targeting positions of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, in Kirkuk’s northwestern Dibis district early Tuesday, the Kirkuk operations command told Rudaw.
The command said nearly 20 others were injured in the attacks, with some reported in critical condition, adding that: "When the first strike occurred, ambulances and local people rushed to the aid of the wounded and the martyrs. However, it was bombarded a second time, and most of those who were wounded are civilians."
The attack, targeting the headquarters of the 40th Brigade of the PMF, came hours after the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani during which he stressed that the Iraqi government must take “all possible measures” to protect American personnel and facilities across the country,
Rubio also strongly condemned what he described as “terrorist attacks” by Iran and Iran-aligned armed groups operating in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
In a readout of the call provided to Rudaw, US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Rubio “strongly condemned terrorist attacks by Iran and Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq, including in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.”
He added that the two leaders “reiterated the importance of the Iraqi government taking all possible measures to safeguard U.S. diplomatic personnel and facilities.”
The attack also follows a series of bombardments in recent days targeting pro-Iran groups in Iraq.
On Sunday, four members of PMF were killed and eight others wounded in an airstrike in Diyala province, according to the armed group.
The strike targeted the PMF position within the borders of Sharaban district, Haitham al-Shammari, spokesperson for Diyala police, told Rudaw on Sunday.
The PMF said in a statement at the time that the four killed fighters were members of the 41st Brigade. The brigade is affiliated with the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq movement, led by Qais al-Khazali.
A source from the PMF Operations Command in Diyala told Rudaw that “it is not yet clear whether the attack was carried out by a drone or a missile.”
The 41st Brigade accused the United States and Israel of carrying out the strike. Neither Washington nor Tel Aviv has commented on the allegation.
The incident comes against the backdrop of a renewed conflict in the region, involving Iran, US and Israel.
In response, groups within the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said they have carried out more than 200 drone and missile attacks against US bases over the past 10 days.
Last updated at 6:40 am.
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