PMF accuse U.S of killing dozens of fighters

Popoular Mobilization forces faction claims that a US airstrike have killed and wounds dozens its fighters near the Syrian border with Iraq. Sayyid al-Shuhada, a Shia militia group part of the Hashd al-Shaabi also known as Popular Mobilization Force (PMF), announced on Monday that the US airstrike targeted their position on the Iraqi-Syrian border killing and wounding a large nunmber of their fighters.

In a statement, Sayyid al-Shuhada Battalion blamed the US warplanes for the airstrikes that killed many of their fighters near Akashat, western Anbar province, on the Syrian-Iraqi border on early morning Monday. Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada is an Iraqi Shia militia founded in 2013 to defend and protect shrines across in the region, preserve the unity of Iraq and to put an end to the sectarian violence in Iraq.  

The militia group, backed by Iran, warned the US of serious consequences as they will not remain silent about the attack, calling the Iraqi government and related authorities to launch an investigation on incident. “We declare that the attack will not pass unpunished and we call upon all Islamic resistance factions in Iraq to study an appropriate response to such criminal act,” the statement concluded.

Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada militia has been supporting the Syrian regime forces and have fought the opposition forces in several areas, particularly in Allepo and near Damascus. According to information shared on its website,the group had secretly stood against what they call it 'US occupation' and lauched attacks on the US troops before the withdrawal of the troops from the country in 2011.

On the military side, The Baghdad Operations Command (BOC) has repulsed a terrorist attack in Amiriyah area, west of Baghdad. “A force from the 54 brigade of the BOC has managed to arrest two terrorists, and found an explosive belt, 14 IEDs and a sniper with them”, according to a statement.

The operation was carried out according to accurate intelligence information, the statement added. On Sunday, the (BOC) has found 16 IEDS and two mortars in different parts of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. Violence in the country has surged further with the emergence of Islamic State Sunni extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

Bombings and armed attacks are seen on almost a daily basis against security members, paramilitary groups and civilians since the Iraqi government launched a wide-scale campaign to retake IS-occupied areas in 2016. More than 500 Iraqis were killed and injured during the month of July due to violence and armed conflicts, according to a monthly count by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).

On the political side,  Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the bilateral ties and the combat against terrorism on Monday. During a phone conversation, initiated by Macron, the French leader reiterated support for the Iraqi government in its efforts to restore security and stability and rebuild the state institutions.

Al-Abadi briefed Macron on the plans of his government to fight terrorism, revitalize the economy, create more jobs and promote investment, according to a government statement. He thanked the French leader for the military support to the Iraqi army in such areas as equipment, armament, logistics and training, the statement added.