20 PMF fighters killed in US-Saudi airstrikes in Iraq

At least 20 members of the Iran-backed Shia paramilitary coalition Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) have been killed and 32 injured in joint US-Saudi airstrikes across at least seven provinces in Iraq, according to international media reports citing the PMF on Wednesday (July 29).

The PMF said strikes targeted their headquarters in Baghdad, Wasit, Nineveh, Basra, Kirkuk, Karbala and Diyala provinces, causing extensive damage to facilities, military vehicles and equipment. The deadliest strike occurred in Nineveh, where 10 were killed.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the joint operation was aimed at supply and weapons storage facilities of Iran-linked terrorist groups. Saudi Arabia said the strikes were in response to drone attacks on their energy facilities, with Iran-backed groups being blamed for attacks in recent days.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi has convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Ministerial Council to bring the situation under control, calling the strikes an assault on sovereignty. The PMF also condemned the attacks as a violation of Iraq's sovereignty and a direct assault on state security institutions.