US airstrikes targeted Popular Mobilization Forces positions in Iraq's Anbar province on March 23, 2026, killing at least 15 fighters including the PMF's Anbar operations commander, Saad al-Baiji, according to PMF statements. The PMF accused the United States of carrying out the attack on a command headquarters while personnel were on duty, though the US has not officially confirmed responsibility for the strikes.
The strikes hit the PMF's 27th Brigade headquarters in Anbar and rear positions of the 15th Brigade in North Tigris/Salah al-Din province. Health sources indicated the death toll could rise due to critical injuries among the 30 wounded, according to local reports. Iraq's Prime Minister condemned the attacks, which the PMF characterized as retaliation for prior PMF operations against US military bases in Iraq.
Current operational situation
The March 23 strikes mark a direct tit-for-tat escalation between US forces and Iran-aligned militias operating within Iraq's state security apparatus. The incident follows a wave of March 12-13 attacks that produced over 100 PMF casualties since February 28, according to PMF statements. These operations coincide with the broader US-Israel military campaign against Iran that began February 28, 2026.
The Popular Mobilization Forces, formally integrated into Iraq's state security structure, includes several Shi'ite paramilitary factions with direct ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. The targeted areas in western Iraq border Syria and have historically served as corridors for Iranian influence and militia activity. The loss of a senior operational commander represents a significant degradation of PMF command structure in Anbar province, where the group maintains extensive military infrastructure supporting operations against US positions.
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Broader conflict context
The strikes occurred as the US-Iran war entered its 24th day, with over 2,000 deaths across multiple theaters including Iran, Lebanon, and Israel. Iran-backed militias have launched sustained attacks on US bases and diplomatic missions throughout Iraq since late February, prompting multiple rounds of retaliatory US airstrikes. The conflict has transformed Iraq into an active front in the US-Iran confrontation, with Iraqi government forces unable to prevent either American or militia operations within Iraqi territory.
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