Iraqi President, PM Condemn Israeli Strikes Targeting Hashd Al-Sha’abi

TEHRAN (defapress) – President Barham Salih and Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi condemned Israeli airstrikes on Sunday that hit bases and weapons depots belonging to Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), also known as Hashd al-Sha’abi.

News ID: 78515

Date: 27 August 2019 - 11:50

The two leaders called the strikes an “attack on Iraqi sovereignty” and called for national unity, according to a statement cited by Iraq’s state news agency.

The strikes took place near the border with Syria, said a statement on Sunday from the PMU.

The PMU said two unmanned aircraft had carried out the attacks, killing one fighter and seriously wounding another. It accused the United States of providing air support to Israel for the strikes.

A security source told Reuters there were two airstrikes, one of which struck the headquarters of a local brigade, while the other struck a convoy of cars leaving the building.

The attack happened after a series of explosions in recent weeks at weapons depots belonging to the popular movement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted on Thursday of possible Israeli involvement in the recent destruction of PMU weapons depots in Iraq.

“We are operating - not just if needed, we are operating in many areas against a state that wants to annihilate us. Of course I gave the security forces a free hand and instructed them to do anything necessary to thwart Iran’s plans,” he said.

Message end/