US airstrikes and Haniyeh’s killing heighten conflict fears in Iraq

NEWSROOM – US airstrikes on a Popular Mobilization Forces base in Jurf al-Sakhr, Babil governorate on Tuesday, along with Israel’s killing of Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday and Lebanese Hezbollah’s senior military commander Fuad Shukri on Tuesday, have heightened fears that Iraq could be drawn deeper into the conflict between Israel and the Iranian-led Axis of Resistance.

The US strikes in Jurf al-Sakhr resulted in the deaths of four fighters from the PMF’s 47th Brigade, according to a PMF statement. US officials claimed the targeted individuals were planning a drone attack on coalition forces, a charge the PMF denies.

The targeted PMF base in Babil belongs to Kata’ib Hezbollah, a significant group within the Iran-led Axis of Resistance. US officials have accused Kata’ib Hezbollah of numerous attacks against their forces in Iraq and Syria in recent months.

In response to the strikes, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani convened a meeting of senior military commanders on Wednesday to review the implications for Iraq. A statement from the prime minister’s office indicated various recommendations for security forces, but did not provide details.

Concerns are mounting in Iraq about potential further escalation in the region. Former Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi condemned the attack on the PMF in a post on X, adding that “Iraq’s interest remains in keeping the country away from the escalation that has no end.”

The Kurdistan Region Presidency also condemned Haniyeh’s killing, expressing deep concern over the incident’s implications for regional stability. Kurdish President Nechirvan Barzani was in Tehran when Haniyeh was killed, as both leaders were attending the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s new President Masoud Pezeshkian. Kurdish authorities have not issued a comment on the US attack on PMF forces.

The US airstrike coinciding with the Israeli killing of Shukri and Haniyeh has raised suspicions among pro-Iran groups that they were the targets of a coordinated campaign. Amid growing concerns about regional conflict, Shia groups close to Iran have issued defiant statements. The PMF Commission called for “defending Iraq’s sovereignty and dignity,” demanding the immediate exit of foreign troops. It linked the US airstrikes to Haniyeh’s killing, accusing the US of attempting to ignite a broader war.

Akram Ka’abi, leader of the Nujaba Movement, vowed retaliation, stating that the US and Israel had “opened up the doors of hell.” Rahim Al-Aboudi of the Hikma Movement, led by Ammar Al-Hakim, warned that Iraq would not remain “silent” if war erupted in Lebanon, suggesting that the situation could escalate to a “world war,” though he clarified that decisions of war and peace rest with the Iraqi Parliament and government.

The Victory Coalition, led by former Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, also condemned the US attack, holding the US responsible for its consequences and warning that continued actions would lead to “dangerous crises” in Iraqi-US relations. The statement was notable as Al-Abadi was once considered US’s top choice for leading Iraq after the defeat of the Islamic State.