US Strikes PMF Base in Anbar as War Expands to Western Iraq
US forces kill 7 fighters at Hashed al-Shaabi base, widening the conflict's geographic footprint
A US airstrike on a Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF/Hashed al-Shaabi) base in western Iraq's Anbar province on Day 25 killed 7 fighters and wounded 13, confirming that the US-Iran war has extended well beyond the Iran-Israel-Lebanon triangle into Iraqi territory. Anbar province borders Syria and has historically hosted US-designated armed groups and PMF factions with direct ties to Tehran. The strike follows a pattern of US operations against Iran-aligned proxies in Iraq and Syria throughout the conflict, and occurs even as Trump maintains his five-day power plant pause to allow diplomatic progress. The US is targeting proxy networks simultaneously with diplomacy — a deliberate pressure strategy.
Key facts
- •7 PMF fighters killed, 13 wounded in US strike on Anbar base
- •Hashed al-Shaabi is formally integrated into Iraq's army but includes pro-Iranian factions
- •Strike occurs during Trump's 5-day power plant pause, showing simultaneous military/diplomatic pressure
- •Anbar Province (western Iraq) borders Syria — key corridor for Iran-backed proxy logistics
- •PMF factions in Anbar previously fired rockets at US-vacated base in Hassakeh, Syria
Timeline
Pro-Iranian Iraqi PMF faction fires 7 rockets at US-vacated base in Hassakeh, Syria
US strike kills 7 PMF fighters at Hashed al-Shaabi base in western Anbar province, Iraq