US carries out strike in Iraq as regional tensions worsen
Iraqi police and medical sources said the strike inside a base south of Baghdad used by Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) killed four members of the group, which includes several Iran-aligned armed militias, and wounded four others.
In a statement after the blasts, the Popular Mobilization Forces made no accusation about who was responsible.
U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States carried out an airstrike in Musayib, in Babil province, but did not provide more details on the location.
The officials added that the strike targeted militants that the U.S. deemed were looking to launch drones and posed a threat to U.S. and coalition forces.
The officials did not comment on any casualties.
"This action underscores the United States' commitment to the safety and security of our personnel," one of the officials said.
Multiple rockets were launched last week toward Iraq's Ain al-Asad airbase housing U.S.-led forces, U.S. and Iraqi sources said, with no damage or casualties reported. U.S. officials said none of the rockets hit the base.
Tuesday's action was the first known U.S. strike in Iraq since February, when the U.S. military launched airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against more than 85 targets linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Iran-aligned militias.