Most of those killed in the strikes were Badr members, MP says

BAGHDAD — Most of the Popular Mobilization Forces members killed in last month’s U.S.-Saudi strikes belonged to the Badr Organization, a Badr lawmaker said Monday, and Badr would lead any military response if diplomacy fails.

“If there is a military response against Saudi Arabia, Badr will certainly be at the forefront,” Abdullah al-Khaigani said in a televised interview. “If there are no solutions, it will be blood for blood and missile for missile.”

He said Badr leader Hadi al-Amiri, who called on armed factions to stand down on Friday, had spoken to the families and tribes of the dead as well as to the armed groups. “Amiri is the foremost of the mujahideen, and his message to all factions, the sons of the martyrs, their brothers and their tribes was that we have plans for this, so let us postpone the strike, wait and give the government and the diplomatic plan a chance,” Khaigani said. “If there is no result, there will be different words at that point.” He described Amiri as responsible for obtaining redress for the dead.

Iran-aligned factions said Friday they had postponed an attack on Saudi Arabia and U.S. military bases planned for that day at Amiri’s request, while saying they had not abandoned the rights of those killed and wounded. Amiri had released a video that morning urging the factions to hold off and promising to pursue the case through diplomatic means. Badr has more than 20 brigades inside the PMF and is among the factions that have agreed to place their weapons under state control.

The head of Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada said Saturday that a response “remains on the table.”

U.S. and Saudi aircraft struck PMF sites in Baghdad, Wasit, Nineveh, Basra, Kirkuk, Karbala and Diyala in late July, killing at least 20 members and wounding 32, according to the force. U.S. Central Command said the strikes hit weapons-storage and logistics sites linked to Iran-backed groups after more than 30 drone attacks it attributed to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.