Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) reported early Tuesday that several of its positions were struck in a series of airstrikes allegedly carried out by United States and Israeli forces.
According to an official statement issued by the PMF, three airstrikes hit Brigade 45 in the Jurf al-Nasr sector, located in central Iraq, while a fourth targeted Brigade 31 in the Karma sector of western Anbar province. The force confirmed that no casualties were reported in the attacks.
The PMF, also known as al-Hashd al-Shaabi, is a state-sanctioned umbrella organization of predominantly Shiite militias. It was established in 2014 following a religious edict (fatwa) issued by Iraq’s top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, in response to the rapid territorial advances of the Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh). The PMF was later formally integrated into Iraq’s armed forces in 2016 through a government decree, granting it official recognition as part of the national security apparatus.
The targeted brigades—Brigade 45 in Jurf al-Nasr and Brigade 31 in Karma—are among the units actively involved in maintaining security in their respective regions. Jurf al-Nasr, located near Baghdad, has historically been a strategically sensitive area due to its proximity to conflict-prone districts, while Karma in western Anbar is near Iraq’s border with Syria, an area frequently affected by cross-border militant activities.
While the PMF statement did not elaborate on the nature or motive of the strikes, the incident comes amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, particularly concerning proxy and militia forces operating across Iraq and Syria.
Analysts suggest that such airstrikes, even when reported without casualties, may serve as targeted measures aimed at curbing the operational capacity of militias aligned with Iran, which the US and Israel consider a security threat in the region. The timing and location of these strikes could reflect ongoing intelligence-driven efforts to prevent potential attacks on allied forces or strategic interests.
The PMF’s response underscores its continued vigilance despite being formally part of Iraq’s state security framework. As an institution, it maintains significant operational autonomy and retains the capability to respond to perceived threats, both militarily and politically, within Iraq’s complex security environment.
The recent airstrikes are likely to draw attention from Baghdad, which often seeks to balance relations between its US allies and Iran-aligned militias, while also maintaining sovereignty over national territory. Past incidents of foreign strikes against PMF positions have at times triggered diplomatic tensions and debates over Iraq’s ability to control foreign military operations on its soil.
For now, the PMF has chosen to report the strikes publicly, highlighting its transparency and readiness to manage security challenges without escalating immediately into retaliatory actions. Observers will be closely monitoring whether Baghdad will issue a formal response or seek diplomatic engagement with Washington and Tel Aviv to address the incident.
The event reflects the continued fragility of Iraq’s security landscape, where multiple actors—including state, non-state, and foreign forces—operate in close proximity. Even in the absence of casualties, the strikes serve as a reminder of Iraq’s strategic importance in broader regional security calculations and the ongoing complexities surrounding militia integration, sovereignty, and international intervention.
As tensions in the Middle East remain high, particularly following recent confrontations involving US, Israeli, and Iranian-linked forces, incidents like Tuesday’s airstrikes underscore the potential for escalation and the delicate balance Iraq must maintain in navigating competing influences while ensuring domestic stability.
