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US Airstrike Kills Senior Militia Commander in Baghdad

BAGHDAD – In a significant development, a high-ranking militia commander was killed during a US airstrike on the headquarters of an Iran-backed militia in central Baghdad, according to militia officials. This strike comes at a time of escalating tensions in the region due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, with concerns that the conflict could spill over into neighboring countries. It also coincides with the Iraqi government’s push for the withdrawal of US-led coalition forces from the country.

Background and Context

The Popular Mobilization Force (PMF), a coalition of militias nominally under the control of the Iraqi military, announced the death of its deputy head of operations in Baghdad, identified as Abu Taqwa. The PMF issued a statement, denouncing the strike as “brutal American aggression.” Confirming the details of the strike, a US defense official, speaking anonymously, revealed that Abu Taqwa was specifically targeted due to his involvement in attacks on US personnel. He was known as a leader of the Harakat al-Nujaba group, which was designated a terrorist organization by the US in 2019.

The Iraqi military, represented by spokesman Yehia Rasool, held the US-led International Coalition Forces responsible for the “unprovoked attack on an Iraqi security body.” The US-led coalition’s primary mission has been to combat the Islamic State, a Sunni extremist militant group that continues to carry out sporadic attacks in Iraq despite losing its territorial control in 2017. Over time, the coalition’s role has shifted from combat to advisory and training support.

In the fight against the Islamic State, the PMF, a group of Iranian-backed primarily Shiite militias, played a crucial role after the militant group overran large parts of Iraq in 2014. While the PMF is officially under the command of the Iraqi army, the militias largely operate independently. This attack, which resulted in the death of two individuals and injured five, occurred at the headquarters affiliated with the Harakat al-Nujaba militia in Baghdad.

Details of the Strike

According to anonymous militia officials, the targeted strike took place while Abu Taqwa and another militia official, al-Saidi, were entering the garage of the headquarters. The strike hit their vehicle, resulting in the deaths of both individuals. Following the attack, heightened security measures were implemented around the strike site on Palestine Street in Baghdad, and Iraqi warplanes were observed flying overhead. Eventually, an Associated Press photographer gained access to the scene, where remnants of the charred car were visible.

Escalating Retaliatory Attacks

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, a group of Iranian-backed militias calling themselves the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has carried out over 100 attacks on bases housing US troops in Iraq and Syria. The group claims that these attacks are in retaliation for US support of Israel in the conflict with Hamas, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 20,000 people in Gaza. Their objective is to force the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq.

Iraqi Government’s Stance

Adding to the complexity of the situation, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who initially gained power with the support of Iran-linked political factions but has also sought to maintain positive relations with the US, recently announced his government’s intention to end the presence of international coalition forces in Iraq. This statement reflects Iraq’s desire to exert more control over its national security and reduce reliance on external military support.

Contributors to this article include Ali Jabar, Tara Copp, Bassem Mroue, and Melanie Lidman of The Associated Press.

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