PMF says 20 members killed, 32 injured in Joint US-Saudi airstrikes across Iraq

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) on Wednesday announced that at least 20 of its members were killed and 32 others wounded in what it described as joint U.S.-Saudi airstrikes targeting its facilities across several Iraqi provinces. In a statement, the PMF said the casualty figures remain preliminary, adding that search and damage assessment operations are still underway and the toll could rise. According to the statement, the strikes hit official PMF headquarters in Baghdad, Wasit, Nineveh, Basra, Kirkuk, Karbala, and Diyala. The organization said the attacks also caused varying degrees of damage to military facilities, vehicles, and equipment stationed at the targeted sites. Furthermore, the PMF described the operation as a “joint U.S.-Saudi aggression,” accusing both countries of carrying out coordinated attacks against its positions. The PMF stressed that specialized committees continue to assess the extent of the damage and verify information from the affected locations. As a result, it said the announced death toll of 20 members and 32 wounded represents an initial estimate that may increase as field investigations and rescue efforts continue. The group added that comprehensive reports will be released once the assessment process is completed. The PMF statement came hours after the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that American and Saudi forces had carried out coordinated airstrikes against what it described as Iran-backed militia positions across Iraq. Saudi Arabia later confirmed its participation in the operation, saying the strikes targeted groups linked to recent drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities while emphasizing that the Kingdom does not seek further escalation. Iraqi authorities have yet to issue a comprehensive official assessment of the reported casualties or the full impact of the strikes.