Four Iran-linked fighters killed in Iraqi air strike operation

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressing his country’s position on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. According to the Iraqi government, Sudani told Rubio that Iraq should not be used as a launchpad for attacks against neighboring countries or the region.

Separately, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have reported targeting a US base in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The group stated that five missiles were fired at Al-Harir Air Base, which is home to the headquarters of the US military presence in the area.

On Tuesday, multiple strikes were launched across Iraq, including one that targeted a group affiliated with the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF). The PMF is an alliance of factions integrated into Iraq’s regular army and includes powerful Iran-backed groups. Four members of the Kataib Imam Ali group, which is affiliated with the PMF, were reported killed and 12 injured in air attacks in northern Iraq.

The Iraqi government has confirmed that several PMF fighters were killed in a bombing in Kirkuk province, although the exact cause of the strike was not attributed to any party. In his phone call with Rubio, Sudani emphasized the importance of ensuring that Iraqi airspace, territory, and waters are not used for military action targeting neighboring countries or the region.

The US has been involved in the conflict since February 28, along with Israel, and has faced missile and drone attacks from Iran. The Kurdistan region has been a target of drone attacks, but most have been intercepted. On Monday night, two drones were downed near a military base in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region.

The Iraqi government’s security information cell confirmed that several PMF fighters were killed in a bombing in Kirkuk province, although the exact cause was not attributed to any party. The Kurdistan Regional Government has condemned recent drone attacks on civilians and cultural institutions, stating that they violate international laws.

Source: Al Jazeera