US-Saudi strikes hit Iraq militias, PMF reports casualties

At least 20 fighters from Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) were killed and 32 others wounded in joint US-Saudi airstrikes targeting Iran-aligned groups across several Iraqi province.

The PMF, also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, said the strikes caused deaths, injuries, and damage to several buildings and facilities belonging to its units. 

Officials said the deadliest strikes occurred in Nineveh province, where at least 10 personnel were reported killed.

US CENTCOM said the operation targeted logistics and weapons facilities linked to groups accused of carrying out drone attacks against US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.

According to CENTCOM, the strikes were conducted in response to more than 30 drone attacks allegedly directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over the previous 72 hours.

The PMF condemned the strikes as a “dangerous escalation” and a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty, saying the attacks targeted official security institutions.