Airstrikes target Iraqi Hashd Shaabi HQ near Kirkuk

KIRKUK - Unidentified airstrikes struck the headquarters of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), also known as Hashd Shaabi, northwest of Kirkuk early Tuesday morning in a significant escalation amid the ongoing war with Iran.

The attack on the 40th Brigade's base in the Dibis district has resulted in multiple casualties, with reports varying between four to six fighters killed and 12 to 20 others wounded. Security sources and local media have described the incident as a targeted operation, potentially linked to broader regional tensions involving US and Israeli forces.

The strikes come against the backdrop of the intensifying conflict between Iran and a US-Israeli coalition, which has spilled over into Iraq, a key battleground due to the presence of Iran-backed militias. Rescue operations are ongoing at the site, where some fighters remain trapped under rubble, according to eyewitness accounts and initial reports.

The airstrikes occurred overnight, hitting the PMF's fortified headquarters in a rural area northwest of Kirkuk, a strategically important oil-rich city in northern Iraq. Security sources cited by Reuters and local outlets like Shafaq News reported that at least two separate strikes targeted the facility, causing significant damage and secondary explosions, likely from stored munitions.

The Kirkuk operations command confirmed the casualties to Rudaw, noting that the attacks were precise and appeared aimed at disrupting militia operations.

While no group has officially claimed responsibility, several sources point to US involvement, with one PMF official describing the strikes as "likely American." This aligns with recent patterns of US self-defense actions against Iran-aligned groups in Iraq, as seen in previous incidents near Mosul and Baghdad. The US has not commented on the Kirkuk strikes, but similar operations have been justified as responses to threats against American personnel.

The Hashd al-Shaabi, formed in 2014 to combat ISIS, is an umbrella organization of predominantly Shiite militias integrated into Iraq's security forces but with strong ties to Iran. Many factions within the PMF have been accused of launching attacks on US and coalition bases in Iraq and Syria amid the Iran war, prompting retaliatory strikes.

Kirkuk, a disputed territory between Iraq's central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, has long been a flashpoint, with PMF units playing a key role in securing areas against Kurdish forces and remnants of ISIS.

This incident follows a series of similar attacks on PMF sites, including a strike near Mosul just days ago that caused no casualties but heightened alerts.