US conducts fresh airstrikes targeting PMF fighters near Baghdad

The airstrikes come just a day after the US killed a top Iranian general, resulting in a massive spike in regional tensions

January 04, 2020 by Peoples Dispatch
People gather at the funeral of Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Photo: Wissm al-Okili/Reuters

Just hours after the illegal and brazen airstrike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, the US conducted more airstrikes targeting a convoy of Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). According to media reports, a US airstrike hit two cars traveling north of Baghdad containing members of Iraqi state-sanctioned militias.

An Iraqi military source later confirmed to Reuters news agency that six members of Iraq’s PMF were killed in the airstrike. Iraqi state television reported that the US airstrikes had targeted PMF camps near Baghdad.

The latest round of US airstrikes has resulted in a severe escalation of hostilities between the US and Iran. The US deployed more than 3,500 troops to the region following its airstrikes, in anticipation of a retaliatory response by Iran and its allies.

The push towards an all-out war by the US was met with overwhelming opposition and condemnation both in the region and abroad.

The Tudeh Party of Iran denounced the act of terrorism by the Trump administration and said “all efforts must be taken in order to prevent the escalation of the crisis in the region and the driving of tensions towards dangerous military conflicts.” It also warned against this being used as an excuse to intensify repression inside the country. The party added that war and military conflicts in the region would only benefit the most reactionary and anti-people forces in the region and across the world and would be against the interests of the nation and working people.

US Senator and 2020 presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and the UK’s Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn condemned the assassination of major general Soleimani. United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, said that the world cannot “afford” another war and urged the leaders of the countries involved to exercise maximum restraint.”

This article has been updated