Iraq Accuses US of Killing at Least 16 People, Including Civilians, in Airstrikes
The Iraqi government has accused the United States of conducting airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of at least 16 people, including civilians, and the injury of 25 others. The attacks targeted the area of Akashat and the city of Al-Qaim, near the border with Syria, and reportedly hit both military and civilian sites.
According to a statement from the Iraqi government spokesman, the airstrikes hit locations where Iraqi security forces and nearby civilians were stationed, leading to allegations of aggression against the sovereignty of Iraq. Local authorities in Anbar province confirmed that the airstrikes targeted sites used by militias known as Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) or Hashad al Shaabi.
The mayors of Rutba and Al-Qaim reported that the airstrikes resulted in casualties among PMU fighters and hit a compound in Al-Qaim city where the PMU had weapons storage and offices. The PMU, a predominantly Shiite paramilitary force, was recognized as a government entity by the Iraqi Parliament in 2016. However, the US administration has consistently viewed the PMU as Iranian-backed militias and has held them responsible for attacks on US sites in Iraq and Syria.
The United States claims to have informed the Iraqi government of its plans before carrying out the attacks, but the Iraqi government has refuted this, accusing the US of intentionally deceiving and distorting the facts. The government statement condemned the attacks as a violation of international law and warned that they could further destabilize the security situation in Iraq and the region.
The allegations and denials from both sides have put the spotlight on the ongoing tensions between the US and Iraqi governments and raised concerns about the potential impact of the airstrikes on stability in the region.