ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ - A fatal airstrike struck a Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) site in Iraq’s western Anbar province early on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, killing at least a senior PMF commander and nine fighters, according to militia statements and regional reports.
The PMF — an umbrella group of mainly Iran aligned militias operating within Iraq’s security framework — identified the slain commander as Saad Al Baiji, who led its operations in Anbar. The militia accused US forces of carrying out the strike, saying it hit a command headquarters while personnel were gathered for a security meeting.
Local security and health sources reported that the strike also wounded dozens of fighters at the site, with emergency responders moving the injured to hospitals in nearby cities. The exact origin of the airstrike — whether directly executed by US military aircraft or allied drones — has not been independently verified by international observers, and US authorities have made no immediate public confirmation of responsibility.
The incident marks one of the deadliest single attacks on PMF personnel in Iraq in recent months and comes amid heightened tensions in the region tied to the wider Middle East conflict involving US Iranian hostilities.
Iraqi political and militia leaders condemned the strike, arguing that it undermines Iraqi sovereignty and could fuel further instability, particularly as the country navigates complex internal security challenges and foreign military presence.
Investigations into the circumstances of the attack are expected to continue as both Iraqi officials and PMF leadership call for accountability. The strike has also drawn international attention, with analysts warning that such escalations carry the risk of drawing Iraq deeper into broader regional confrontations.
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