A site in Iraq that is associated with the Iranian-backed militias has reportedly been struck amid the clashes that have broken out between the US, Israel, and Iran.
Shafaq News in Iraq “reported that a security source and another in the Popular Mobilization Forces reported on Saturday that an Israeli missile strike targeted the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces in the Jurf al-Sakhr area, specifically targeting the headquarters of Kataib Hezbollah.”
This apparently happened on Saturday morning in the context of US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Iran has retaliated with attacks across the region.
Kataib Hezbollah is an Iraqi militia closely linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Kataib Hezbollah leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was killed in 2020 when he was riding in the same car as IRGC-Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani.
Kataib Hezbollah had threatened US forces in Iraq in the lead-up to the recent war. It also killed three Americans in a drone attack in Jordan in January 2024. It had supported the Hamas October 7 massacre in Israel. It has used drones and missiles in the past to attack US forces, Kurdish groups, and others. It is considered the most extreme of the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.
According to Shafaq News, “the attack resulted in two deaths and eight injuries among the Popular Mobilization Forces, while the relevant authorities continue to monitor the situation to assess the extent of the damage.”
The report went on to say that “no further details are yet known regarding the nature or circumstances of the strike, pending an official statement from the Popular Mobilization Forces leadership and security authorities to clarify the details of the incident accurately.”
Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have close ties to the IRGC, and there have been concerns that they may be mobilized by Iran to attack US forces or even to target Israel.
On Friday, Kataib Hezbollah threatened the US and the Kurdistan Region in the event of strikes on Iran. On Saturday, the militia reiterated this threat, stating that they are preparing to strike the US "soon."