Airstrike kills four Iraqi fighters from Popular Mobilization Forces

Sunday 01 March 2026 - 15:48

Four members of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces were killed in an airstrike on Sunday, according to security officials and a source within the paramilitary formation.

The strike targeted a base in Diyala province, in central Iraq, resulting in the deaths of four fighters and leaving eight others wounded, security sources said. The identity of the party responsible for the attack has not been officially confirmed.

The Popular Mobilization Forces, known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi, were formed in 2014 to combat the extremist group ISIS during its rapid territorial expansion across Iraq. Over time, the coalition — which includes several armed factions, some with close ties to Iran — was formally integrated into Iraq’s state security apparatus.

Despite their incorporation into the national defense structure, units affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces have periodically been targeted in aerial operations amid broader regional tensions. Diyala province, where the latest strike occurred, has long been considered a sensitive security area due to its strategic location and history of militant activity.

A representative from the Popular Mobilization Forces confirmed the deaths of the four fighters, describing them as having fallen in the line of duty. No further details were provided regarding the circumstances of the strike or potential retaliation.

The incident comes at a time of heightened instability across parts of the Middle East, as ongoing confrontations and shifting alliances continue to influence security dynamics in Iraq and neighboring countries.