Deadly US attack on Iraqi military base sparks condemnation

A US military strike killed seven Iraqi soldiers at a base in Iraq, with the operation targeting the Popular Mobilisation Forces, a paramilitary group with ties to Iran. The strike has drawn condemnation from Iraqi officials and regional actors who view the deaths as an escalation in US military operations within Iraqi territory. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between the US military presence in Iraq and Iranian-backed militia groups operating there, a flashpoint that has repeatedly flared since the 2020 killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani. Iraq's government has long struggled to balance its relationship with the US and the influence of Iran-aligned forces, and civilian and military casualties from US operations complicate that balance further. The strike raises questions about the scope of US counterterrorism operations in Iraq and their potential to destabilize the country.