Over a dozen killed in two strikes on PMF positions in Kirkuk, Anbar

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - More than a dozen members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, were killed in two separate strikes targeting the group’s bases in Kirkuk and Anbar provinces in the early hours of Thursday, amid escalating regional tensions.

In an airstrike on a PMF military camp in the western town of al-Qaim in Iraq’s Anbar province, west of Baghdad, 10 members of the group were killed, Al Jazeera reported, citing an Iraqi security official.

In a separate drone strike on a PMF base in Kirkuk, at least four members of Hashd al-Shaabi were killed and around eight others were injured, according to Rudaw reporters on the ground citing relevant sources.

The escalating violence comes against the backdrop of renewed regional tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

The attacks on PMF bases come three days after 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” carried out by Iran and Iran-aligned armed groups operating in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

The latest strikes follow a series of recent bombardments targeting pro-Iran groups in Iraq.

On Tuesday, six PMF members were killed and 20 others injured in two separate strikes on the group’s positions in Kirkuk’s northwestern Dibis district.

On Sunday, four PMF members were killed and eight others wounded in an airstrike in Diyala province, according to the armed group.

In response, factions within the Islamic Resistance in Iraq say they have carried out more than 200 drone and missile attacks against US bases over the past 13 days.