The Complex Dynamics of the Attack on PMF Base South of Baghdad: Amidst Escalating Conflicts in the Middle East
On Friday night, an airstrike against a military base 40 kilometers south of Baghdad, operated by the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), resulted in the death of at least one person and injuries to 20 others. The PMF reported that three drones hit the main entrance to the base and one of its offices. The base houses Iraqi military and police, as well as fighters from the PMF, which is recognized as a formal security force by the Iraqi authorities. Explosions occurred in equipment warehouses, with ongoing fires and search operations for the injured.
The perpetrator of the attack remains unknown. While militia sources attributed the bombing to the United States, both Washington and the international coalition led by the United States denied involvement in the attack. Israeli sources also denied their participation in the attack and expressed readiness to respond to whoever is behind it.
Recent months have seen escalating conflicts between various armed groups and international actors involved in ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, part of a pro-Iranian militia group known as Axis of Resistance, has carried out numerous attacks against US troops in Iraq. These groups have targeted Israel and its ally, America, in response to Israeli offensives in Gaza.
Israel recently launched an attack on Iranian soil that killed two Iranian nuclear scientists and damaged nuclear facilities near Tehran. This incident added to regional tensions between Iran and Israel, with uncertainty over a potential Israeli ground offensive in Gaza adding fuel to these tensions.
The attack on PMF base comes amid this broader context of escalating conflicts in the region, highlighting complex dynamics between various armed groups and international actors involved.
In conclusion, while it remains uncertain who carried out Friday’s attack on PMF base south of Baghdad, it is clear that regional tensions are contributing to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. As such, efforts must be made towards de-escalation and peaceful resolution of these conflicts if any lasting peace is to be achieved.
