BAGDAD — A US airstrike on the headquarters of a US-backed militia Iran in central Baghdad killed a senior commander of the group on Thursday, Iraqi officials said.
Thursday’s attack came at a time of rising regional tensions fueled by the war between Israel and Hamas and the fear that it will spread to neighboring nations. It also coincides with efforts by Iraqi officials for the US-led coalition forces to leave the country.
The Popular Mobilization Force — a coalition of militias that is formally under the control of the Iraqi army — announced in a statement that its deputy director of operations in Baghdad, identified as Abu Taqwa, died “as a result of brutal American aggression.”
A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to provide information that has not yet been released, confirmed details of the attack on Thursday, saying that Abu Taqwa had been targeted because he had been actively involved in attacks against US personnel. Abu Taqwa was identified as the leader of the Harakat al Nujaba group.
Terrorist Organization
In 2019, Washington designated that group, one of the militias within the FMP, as a terrorist organization.
Yehia Rasool, a spokesperson for the Iraqi armed forces, said in a statement that the Iraqi military blames the U.S.-led International Coalition Forces for the “unprovoked attack against an Iraqi security body operating in accordance with the powers that be.” he was granted” by the Iraqi armed forces.
The attack left two dead and five wounded, according to two militia officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
An intense security operation was deployed around the place where the attack occurred, on Palestine Street in the Iraqi capital, and Iraqi warplanes were seen flying over the area.
A hundred attacks against Americans
Since the war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, an Iranian-backed militia group calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has carried out more than 100 attacks on bases housing US soldiers in both Iraq and Syria. .
According to the group, the attacks are in retaliation for Washington’s support for Israel in the war against Hamas, which has left more than 20,000 dead in Gaza, and it says its goal is to expel US forces from Iraq.
The attack is likely to generate more calls for the United States to leave Iraqi territory.
The incident occurred two days after a suspected Israeli drone killed Saleh Arouri, second in the Hamas hierarchy, in the suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon.
Asked about possible Israeli involvement in Thursday’s attack in Baghdad, an Israeli military spokesman declined to comment.
Source: With information from AP
