Baghdad, March 4, (V7N) – A military base in southern Iraq housing the Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah group was struck in a fresh wave of air attacks today, according to sources within the faction. The Jurf al-Nasr base, a critical stronghold for the group, has been hit multiple times since the onset of the US-Israeli air campaign against Iran.

The violence, which has intensified since Saturday, has claimed the lives of more than 10 fighters, predominantly from Kataeb Hezbollah, across Iraq. While Tuesday’s airstrike caused significant material damage, no casualties were reported.

Despite Iraq’s calls to remain neutral, the conflict has escalated within its borders. Several Iran-aligned armed groups, part of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, have vowed to retaliate, launching numerous drone strikes targeting US bases. A drone was intercepted near Baghdad International Airport, and earlier in the day, security forces seized rockets intended for the airport.

In Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, the situation remains tense, with drone strikes blamed on Iran targeting a camp housing Iranian Kurdish fighters. The region, which hosts US forces, has faced multiple drone attacks, although most have been intercepted by air defenses. Today, a drone strike near Sulaimaniyah, the Kurdish region’s second-largest city, damaged an area previously used by the UN, though no casualties were reported.

The ongoing strikes and rising casualties highlight the growing regional instability as the US-Israeli military operations against Iran continue to spill over into neighboring Iraq and the Kurdish region. The situation remains fluid, with heightened security concerns across the Middle East.

END/WD/RH/