Kataib Hezbollah says PMF chairman did warn it before last month’s strikes

BAGHDAD — Kataib Hezbollah said the head of the Popular Mobilization Forces warned it in advance of the U.S.-Saudi strikes in July, contradicting the PMF’s own denial three weeks ago that its chairman had prior knowledge — and said he authorised the disclosure.

“After receiving permission from Hajj Faleh al-Fayyadh — may God strengthen him — to publish this, we affirm — and God is witness to that — that he informed the leadership of the Kataib Hezbollah of the Saudi-American treacherous bombing before it occurred, and the necessary precautionary measures were taken at the time,” security official Abu Mujahid al-Assaf said.

The warning was wrong about who would be hit, he said. “It appears that the information available to the brothers in the Popular Mobilization Forces was incomplete, as it indicated that the attack would be directed exclusively against the Kataib or the brothers in the Islamic Resistance factions, considering them the intended target of the escalation.”

The PMF denied on Aug. 10 that Fayyadh had advance warning or failed to alert units, while disclosing that all forces had been told two days beforehand to take maximum precautions and that the 4th Regiment of the 30th Brigade did not comply and took the most casualties, with Fayyadh ordering an investigation into its commanders.

That denial answered Asaib Ahl al-Haq, which alleged U.S. envoy Tom Barrack told Baghdad three hours in advance and that Fayyadh was informed but did not order evacuations. Sadiqoun political bureau member Ahmed Adnan said parliament was preparing to question him, which has not happened. Muqtada al-Sadr’s spokesperson Salah al-Obaidi called on Aug. 10 for an investigation into whether officials were warned, describing the failure to pass it on as “an internal crime.”

Assaf called for an end to the recriminations. “We demand an end to the quarrels and attacks against the leaders, in appreciation of their history and out of respect for the martyrs of the Popular Mobilization Forces and its mujahideen factions,” he said, urging leaders to abandon “the struggle over positions in this fleeting world.”

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.