Air Strikes Kill Seven Fighters in Iraqs Anbar Province

Iraqi Military Base Attacked in Anbar Province

A military base in western Iraq’s Anbar province was targeted with an aerial attack on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of seven fighters and injuries to 13 others, according to the Iraqi Ministry of Defence.

The strikes targeted a military healthcare clinic at the base in Habbaniyah. The ministry described the attack as “a heinous crime” that violated international laws and norms.

An Iraqi police source confirmed that the attack was directed at positions held by the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a paramilitary force that includes some Iran-aligned brigades and shares the base with members of Iraq’s regular army. The PMF reportedly suffered losses in the attack, which appeared to be the first time the force was targeted alongside the broader Iraqi military.

Iraq has condemned the attack, amid ongoing tensions between the country and the United States over its involvement in the conflict against Iran. On Tuesday, the Iraqi government announced plans to summon the Iranian and US ambassadors over recent strikes on PMF positions. The previous day’s strike, which the PMF blamed on the US, was the deadliest in Iraq since the start of the war on Iran.

The Iraqi government has granted the PMF a “right to respond” to any attack against it, a position reaffirmed by the Defence Ministry. The US Department of Defense has acknowledged carrying out strikes against pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq during the conflict.

Source: Al Jazeera