Israel kills PMF fighter in US backed strike on Nineveh Plain

US and Israeli forces conducted a coordinated airstrike on Iraq's Nineveh Plain that killed one Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) fighter and injured two others, according to multiple sources.

“Air strikes have killed two fighters from the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) in northern Iraq, the paramilitary group says from one of the fronts in the sprawling war engulfing the Middle East”

Al Jazeera

The PMF, a predominantly Shia paramilitary group integrated into Iraq's security apparatus, described the strike as 'treacherous' and blamed both the United States and Israel for the attack.

Al Jazeera

This incident represents the latest escalation in the broader regional conflict, with the PMF having conducted numerous missile and drone strikes against US interests in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in retaliation for ongoing military operations against Iran and its allies.

The targeted Nineveh Plain strike is part of a broader pattern of US and Israeli military operations against PMF positions that have intensified since February's large-scale offensive against Iran.

Multiple reports confirm that dozens of PMF members have been killed in these coordinated strikes, including high-profile figures such as Abu Ali al-Askari, the security chief and spokesperson of Kataib Hezbollah, one of Iraq's most powerful pro-Iran armed groups.

Anadolu Agency

The Iraqi government has repeatedly condemned these strikes, viewing them as violations of sovereignty, while the PMF has responded with increased attacks on US interests throughout the region.

The ongoing conflict has created severe humanitarian challenges in the region, particularly regarding emergency response and evacuation efforts.

“ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – At least two members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) were killed in renewed strikes on their positions in Iraq's Nineveh and Salahaddin provinces, the group said on Thursday”

The New Region

PMF sources report that evacuation operations are facing significant difficulties due to the continued presence of enemy aircraft, which have deliberately targeted ambulance crews on multiple occasions.

This pattern of targeting medical and humanitarian personnel further complicates the already dire situation on the ground, with casualties mounting and essential services being disrupted by the continued military operations in the Nineveh region and surrounding areas.

The PMF's role in Iraq's security architecture adds complexity to the regional dynamics, particularly given its formal integration into Iraq's armed forces.

Originally formed in 2014 as a volunteer force to fight against ISIS, the PMF was formally incorporated into Iraq's armed forces by government decree in 2016.

Al Jazeera

This official status creates a delicate diplomatic situation for the Iraqi government, which must balance its relationship with both the United States and Iran while managing the activities of PMF factions.

The Kurdistan Regional Government has been particularly critical of PMF activities, repeatedly urging Baghdad to rein in their operations amid near-daily bombardment of the Kurdistan Region.