ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Seven Iraqi soldiers were killed and 13 others wounded in an airstrike targeting a military base in Habbaniyah, Anbar province, early Wednesday, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense.
The ministry said the Habbaniyah Military Dispensary and the Works Department, both affiliated with the site command, “were subjected to a heinous airstrike followed by fire from aircraft cannons,” adding that the casualties occurred while personnel were carrying out “their national and humanitarian duties.”
It also added that rescue teams were continuing search operations at the site.
Describing the strike as a serious breach of international law, the ministry said the attack “constitutes a flagrant and grave violation of all international laws and norms that prohibit the targeting of medical facilities and their personnel.”
The statement further condemned the incident as “a criminal act” and “a dangerous escalation that demands a firm stance and the accountability of those responsible,” stressing that “the targeting of medical facilities is an abhorrent crime by all standards.”
Despite the attack, the ministry said its forces remain committed to their duties. “These cowardly attacks will not deter our personnel from performing their duties; rather, they will only increase their resolve and determination to continue their mission in serving the nation and its people,” the statement read.Video circulating on social media shows the moment seven Iraqi army personnel were killed and at least 13 others wounded in airstrikes targeting a military base in Anbar province's Habbaniyah district, west of Baghdad, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) March 25, 2026
READ MORE:… pic.twitter.com/Esryajjk2t
The Ministry of Defense also affirmed that it “reserves its full right to take all necessary measures to respond to this aggression within the approved legal frameworks.”
No party has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
The attack comes just days after a separate strike on the Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) in Baghdad killed an intelligence officer, amid a regional conflict that has intensified since late last month following the US and Israel’s joint military actions against Iran.
Last updated at 11:24 am.
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment