Security

Unidentified aircraft strikes PMF in Kirkuk province

The source said it is still unknown what the aircraft belonged to, but the bombing targeted fighters belonging to the Nujaba Movement, part of the PMF umbrella group.

Kurdistan 24 2023/12/03 22:31

The aftermath of the attack, Dec. 3, 2023. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)

Kurdistan Dibis district Kirkuk PMF Nujaba Movement Drone attack

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan 24 on Sunday was informed by a source in the Iraqi security forces that an unidentified aircraft bombed the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in the Dibis district southwest of Kirkuk.

The source said it is still unknown what the aircraft belonged to, but the bombing targeted fighters belonging to the Nujaba Movement, part of the PMF umbrella group.

Five militants were killed and several others wounded, Iraqi media confirmed, who also alleged that the aircraft was of American origin, which Kurdistan 24 has not yet verified.

While it is unclear whether the attack was carried out by drones or warplanes, Iraqi media reported that six missiles had been fired from Rabia town into Syrian territory targeting US and Coalition installations.

Moreover, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), seen as a close affiliate of the PMF, claimed responsibility for an attack overnight on Friday on the Al-Harir Air Base in northwestern Erbil.

The IRI also claimed responsibility for a bombing on a US military base in northeastern Syria and hit its targets directly.

While it is unclear what the exact relationship between the IRI and PMF is, the Washington Institute’s Bilal Wahab and Selin Uysal believe that the IRI is merely a rebranding to give the PMF an “official Iraqi state organ” and, thus, “more protection from sanctions and legal actions.”