IRAQ, Mar 24 (V7N) – A US airstrike in western Iraq on Tuesday killed a senior commander and several fighters from the Hashed al-Shaabi militia group, according to a statement from the group. The attack targeted a base in Anbar province during a commanders' meeting, resulting in seven deaths and 13 injuries, a source within the group told AFP, who attributed the strike to the United States.

The strike killed Saad Dawai al-Baiji, the provincial commander and head of operations for Hashed al-Shaabi in Anbar, along with several other fighters, although the group did not provide further details on the casualties. The group, also known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), is part of Iraq's regular armed forces but includes several Iran-backed brigades.

A security official confirmed that the wounded were being treated at a nearby hospital. This attack follows increasing tensions in the region, especially after the outbreak of war between Israel and Iran in late February, which has drawn Iraq into the broader conflict.

Hashed al-Shaabi and other pro-Iran militias have previously been involved in strikes targeting US interests in Iraq, and the Pentagon confirmed last week that combat helicopters had carried out strikes against these groups during the ongoing hostilities.

Baghdad has strongly condemned the attacks on Hashed al-Shaabi, which it considers an integral part of its armed forces, although Iraq’s government has faced challenges in managing the influence of Iran-aligned groups operating within its borders.

END/WD/RH/