US airstrikes on Iraqi militia forces kill 3 people
Xinhua News Agency, Baghdad, March 31 (Reporter Li Jun, Duan Minfu) - The Iraqi Shiite militia group "Popular Mobilization Forces" issued multiple statements on the 31st, accusing the United States and Israel of launching attacks on several targets of the organization that day, resulting in the deaths of three members.
According to their statement, at around 14:30 local time, the "Popular Mobilization Forces" units located in Anbar Province in western Iraq were attacked by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, resulting in the deaths of three members and multiple injuries. In addition, the organization's units in the Jurf al-Sakhar area of Babylon Province in central Iraq and in Nineveh Province in the north were also attacked, but there were no reports of casualties.
Since the large-scale military operations launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran on February 28, the "Popular Mobilization Forces," which are considered closely linked to Iran, have frequently been targeted in various locations across Iraq. The organization has attributed the attacks to the United States and Israel.
On the same day, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior issued a statement saying that a foreign journalist was kidnapped by unidentified individuals in the capital, Baghdad. Iraqi security forces intercepted a vehicle during a pursuit operation and arrested a suspect. Relevant departments are making every effort to track down other individuals involved and actively rescue the kidnapped person. A source from the Ministry of Interior told Xinhua that the kidnapped journalist is a U.S. citizen.
U.S. and Israeli forces conducted airstrikes against the Popular Mobilization Forces in Anbar Province on March 31, 2023, resulting in the deaths of three members. Additional attacks were reported in Babylon and Nineveh provinces, but no casualties occurred there. This incident is part of ongoing military actions against Iranian-affiliated groups in Iraq.
- U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted Popular Mobilization Forces on March 31, 2023.
- Three members of the Popular Mobilization Forces were killed in the airstrikes.
- Additional attacks occurred in Babylon and Nineveh provinces, but no casualties were reported there.
- The attacks are part of a series of strikes against groups linked to Iran since February 28, 2023.
- A foreign journalist was kidnapped in Baghdad on the same day as the airstrikes.