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3. Iraq Says Won't Remain Silent Following Attack on PMF Base

Iraq warned on Wednesday that its armed forces “will not remain silent” following a deadly airstrike that killed seven soldiers at a site linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition of Iran-backed militias integrated into Iraq’s regular armed forces, according to an article in the Times of Israel.

In a statement posted on X, the Iraqi prime minister’s office said that despite Baghdad’s efforts to avoid being drawn into the regional conflict, attacks on Iraqi military units have continued. The latest strike, described as a “treacherous aggression,” targeted the Al-Habbaniyah military clinic, affiliated with the Ministry of Defense.

The statement emphasized that the government and armed forces “possess the right to respond by all available means” in accordance with the United Nations Charter, adding that Iraq will not remain silent in the face of the loss of its troops. Officials also warned that such strikes damage relations between Iraq and the United States.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said the foreign ministry will deliver a formal protest note to the U.S. chargé d’affaires, strongly condemning the attack as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty. Baghdad also announced plans to submit a complaint to the United Nations Security Council.

Deadly Airstrikes Prompt Iraqi Fury

The new strike comes one day after a separate attack on the same base that killed 15 PMF fighters, including a commander, marking the deadliest incident in Iraq since the start of the regional conflict sparked by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in February.

The PMF blamed the United States for that strike, while Washington acknowledged targeting pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq.

The base in Anbar province hosts both Iraqi security personnel and PMF units, reflecting the complex overlap between state forces and Iran-aligned militias. Authorities have stressed that Iraq retains the right to defend its troops and territory against further attacks.