At least 20 members of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) were killed after the United States and Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes on military positions across Iraq on Wednesday. The PMF, an alliance of former paramilitary groups that now forms part of the Iraqi armed forces, confirmed the casualties and said several others suffered injuries. The strikes have further raised tensions in the region and prompted strong condemnation from the alliance.

In a statement, the PMF said at least 20 of its fighters lost their lives in the attacks. It also reported that 32 others sustained injuries. The alliance described the figures as a preliminary toll and said the strikes targeted its bases in seven Iraqi provinces. It stated, “20 were martyred and another 32 wounded according to a preliminary toll” following the US-Saudi strikes on its bases across the country.

The United States and Saudi Arabia said they launched the operation against Iran-backed militants operating in Iraq. According to both countries, the strikes came in response to attacks targeting US military personnel and Saudi oil facilities. The operation marked another major development in the ongoing regional conflict involving Iran-backed armed groups.

The PMF said the attacks caused casualties as well as damage to its facilities. In its statement, the alliance said, “These attacks resulted in the martyrdom of a number of personnel and injuries to others, as well as material damage to several buildings and properties.” It added that the strikes affected several of its bases spread across different parts of Iraq.

A PMF official told AFP that the strikes hit positions belonging to the alliance in several provinces. He said the deadliest attack took place in Nineveh province. According to the official, at least 10 PMF members were killed there alone. He also confirmed that other provinces reported injuries following the attacks.

Another PMF official confirmed the preliminary casualty figures released by the alliance. Both officials spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity. Their statements matched the details released by the PMF regarding the scale of the strikes and the number of casualties.

The Popular Mobilization Forces came into existence in 2014 during Iraq's campaign against jihadist groups. The alliance brought together several paramilitary factions that later became part of the country's official armed forces. Over the years, the PMF has played an important role in Iraq's security structure.

Several Iran-backed armed groups operate within the PMF. Although they remain part of the alliance, many of these groups have often acted independently and their separate operations came to the fore in regional conflicts involving Iran, the United States and its allies.

Following the latest attacks, the PMF strongly criticised the military operation. In its statement on Wednesday, the alliance described the US-Saudi strikes as “dangerous escalation, a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty, and an attack on its official security institutions.” The statement reflected the alliance's view that the strikes targeted Iraq's recognised security forces rather than independent armed groups.

The military action followed reports from Saudi Arabia that its forces intercepted drones targeting oil facilities in the country's eastern region. Riyadh blamed Iran-backed groups operating in Iraq for launching the drones. The accusation added another layer of tension between Saudi Arabia and the armed groups active inside Iraq.

However, the groups accused by Saudi Arabia rejected the allegations. They described Riyadh's claims as “fabrications” and warned Saudi Arabia against carrying out military action inside Iraq. Their response came shortly after the airstrikes and reflected the growing hostility between both sides.

Among the most active Iran-backed organisations in Iraq is the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. The alliance has supported Tehran during the wider conflict in the Middle East. It has claimed responsibility for hundreds of attacks targeting US military bases in Iraq and other parts of the region over the past several months.

Despite its history of attacks, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has not claimed responsibility for any operation since hostilities between the United States and Iran resumed earlier this month. The absence of new claims has raised questions about the group's recent military activity, even as regional tensions continue to rise.

Iraq continues to face pressure from both Washington and Tehran. The two countries remain among Baghdad's most important partners, yet their long-standing rivalry has repeatedly turned Iraq into a battleground for competing interests. Successive Iraqi governments have struggled to maintain balanced relations with both sides while protecting the country's stability.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who took office earlier this year with Washington's support, has pledged to bring pro-Iran armed groups under greater state control. He vowed to ensure these groups hand over their weapons. His plan has faced resistance from several influential factions within Iraq's political and security landscape.

Earlier this month, Zaidi travelled to both the United States and Iran as part of his diplomatic efforts. His visits highlighted Iraq's attempt to maintain ties with both countries despite growing regional tensions. The latest US-Saudi strikes and the PMF's response have added fresh challenges to that balancing effort and increased uncertainty over Iraq's security situation.