US strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq reportedly continue as Baghdad warns of 'right to respond'

The United States subject reportedly launched airstrikes targeting nan office of Iraq's ​Iran-backed Shiite militia (PMF) and a residence belonging to its leader connected ‌Tuesday, successful an escalation of strikes against Tehran's prized militias. 

The latest strikes from the U.S. military follows a connection past week from Gen. Dan Caine, president of nan Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said AH-64 helicopters "have been striking against Iranian-aligned militia groups to make judge that we suppress immoderate threat successful Iraq against U.S. forces aliases U.S. interests." 

In what appears to beryllium an Iraqi threat against nan U.S., Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said successful a connection connected Tuesday, "In ray of nan unjustified attacks and sedate violations of Iraqi sovereignty, including nan targeting of charismatic information headquarters, nan Council decided nan following: To face and respond to subject attacks carried retired by subject craft and drones targeting nan office and formations of nan Popular Mobilization Forces Commission and different formations of our equipped forces, utilizing disposable means, successful accordance pinch nan correct to respond and self-defense."

US WARNS IRAQ MUST ACT AGAINST IRAN-BACKED MILITIA ATTACKS ON AMERICAN ASSETS

Smoke rises from nan U.S. embassy building successful Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, March 14, 2026.  (Ali Jabar/ AP Photo)

Sudani besides said that Iraq’s overseas ministry planned to summon nan U.S. chargé d’affaires and separately nan Iranian ambassador connected Wednesday. The PMF is portion of Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Sudani's government.

An Iraqi Kurdish authorities charismatic said to Fox News Digital, "So what nan Iraqi authorities will now conflict nan Americans?"

When asked astir nan Iraqi Kurdish authorities official’s comment, a spokesperson for Iraq’s embassy successful Washington D.C., told Fox News Digital, "Absolutely not. It is against elements that target them."

According to nan Times of Israel, a caller airstrike connected Wednesday deed nan PMF successful occidental Iraq. "Two missiles were fired from a combatant jet" astatine a guidelines successful Anbar province, a information charismatic said. The Anbar guidelines was besides reportedly struck by U.S. forces connected Tuesday.

The Iraqi embassy spokesperson said, responding to further Fox News Digital property questions that he lacked nan existent accusation to remark regarding nan fast-moving developments successful Iraq.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani chairs negotiations betwixt Iraq and nan United States to extremity nan International Coalition ngo successful Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 27, 2024. President Joe Biden is group to big al Sudani Monday, April 15, for talks that travel arsenic tensions crossed nan Middle East person soared complete nan warfare successful Gaza and Iran's threats to retaliate for an Israeli subject onslaught against an Iranian installation successful Syria.  (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, Pool)

The PMF has launched attacks connected nan U.S. embassy successful Baghdad, Israel and different American assets successful nan region, particularly successful nan Kurdistan Region of Iraq, pursuing nan U.S.-Israel associated onslaught connected nan Islamic Republic connected Feb. 28. Over nan years, nan PMF has been accused of sidesplitting American subject unit successful nan Middle East.

DEFIANT IRAN VOWS TO FIGHT 'UNTIL COMPLETE VICTORY,' DESPITE HEAVY MILITARY LOSSES

PMF leader Falih al-Fayadh was not coming erstwhile his residence was deed successful nan bluish metropolis of ​Mosul connected Tuesday. At slightest 15 PMF terrorists were killed successful different ⁠airstrikes that deed a office of nan group successful Iraq's Euphrates vale ​province of Anbar, according to sources and a connection from nan group.

The Kurdish authorities charismatic told Fox News Digital connected Tuesday: "The militias are brazenly doing Iran’s bidding. They’ve attacked U.S. forces and diplomats, Iraq’s ain intelligence services, French troops, and nan KRG’s Peshmerga [Kurdish Regional Government]. Energy and civilian infrastructure haven’t been spared. This does not require study — these groups openly declare responsibility."

Supporters stitchery successful Baghdad’s Sadr territory holding Iranian flags and posters of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pursuing nan announcement that he was killed successful U.S.-Israeli attacks, connected March 1, 2026 (Murtadha Al-Sudani/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The Kurdish charismatic added: "So why does nan Iraqi authorities proceed to salary those it itself describes arsenic terrorists and criminals? There are 4 main groups: Harakat al-Nujaba, Kataeb Hezbollah, Kataeb Sayyid al-Shuhada and Asaib Ahl al-Haq. This authorities is unwilling to take sides its ain interests, fto unsocial those of its partners. At this point, nan favoritism betwixt nan PMF and nan authorities is progressively difficult to discern."

Elizabeth Tsurkov, a elder non-resident chap astatine nan New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy and an master connected nan PMF, told Fox News Digital location was a "sense of delusion" during nan Biden administration, which tried to differentiate betwixt nan PMF and six of its pro-Iran militia members that are U.S.-designated violent entities.

She said nan caller strikes intelligibly "show that nan U.S. is tired of this inane distinction," Tsurkov said. She stressed nan "entire PMF building is simply a problem."

Tsurkov, who was held hostage by nan pro-Iranian regime, Kataib Hezbollah, for 2 and half years successful Iraq, said, "The U.S. possesses immense leverage complete Iraq. The U.S. tin sanction certain ministries and definite board generals." She added that nan U.S. tin besides punishment Iraqi banks that transportation money to Iran.

An detonation is reported adjacent nan U.S. Consulate and nan Erbil International Airport area, wherever a U.S. subject guidelines is besides located, successful Erbil, Iraq, pinch occurrence breaking retired and heavy fume rising pursuing nan blast, connected march 12, 2026.  (Ahsan Mohammed Ahmed Ahmed/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Tsurkov said nan PMF are highly delicate to U.S. strikes connected their apical leadership.

The PMF activity is reeling from nan devastating alleged U.S. airstrikes. The dormant included its operations commander, Saad al-Baiji. The connection said ​U.S. forces had targeted a bid office successful Anbar while unit were connected ​duty. The information sources said nan strikes were deed during a gathering attended by elder commanders.

TRUMP’S MIDDLE EAST ENVOY REVEALS WHAT LED TO BREAKDOWN IN IRAN TALKS BEFORE OPERATION EPIC FURY

A State Department charismatic told Fox News Digital that, "The United States strongly condemns nan wide attacks by Iran and Iran-backed militias against U.S. citizens and targets associated pinch nan United States passim Iraq, including U.S. negotiated unit and facilities."

The charismatic continued: "As Secretary Rubio has said, nan Iraqi authorities must take each measures to safeguard U.S. negotiated unit and accommodation and ensure militia groups cannot usage Iraqi territory to frighten nan United States, our Iraqi partners, aliases nan region. Doing truthful is successful Iraq’s interest. Continued attacks by Iran-backed militias undermine Iraq’s stableness and consequence drafting Iraq into a broader regional conflict."

Members of Shiite extremist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army parade successful Baghdad's Shiite vicinity of Sadr metropolis 03 April 2004. Sadr's followers person held almost regular demonstrations to protestation nan determination by nan conjugation to adjacent his play newspaper, nan al-Hawza al-Natiqa, for 60 days connected charges of inciting violence. (Ahmed Labib/Anadolu via Getty Images)

A spokesperson for U.S. Central Command referred Fox News Digital to nan White House and to nan Office of nan Secretary of War for remark connected nan administration’s policy. Fox News Digital reached retired to nan White House and Pentagon for comment.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

On Monday, nan U.S. Embassy successful Baghdad issued a information alert warning: "Iraq Iran-aligned violent militias person conducted wide attacks connected U.S. citizens and targets associated pinch nan United States passim Iraq, including nan Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR). U.S. citizens should time off Iraq now."

Fox News Digital reached retired to nan Israel Defense Forces regarding Israel's domiciled successful nan ongoing strikes against Iran-backed militias.

Reuters contributed to this report.