The U.S. executed a self-defense strike in Iraq on Tuesday amid escalating regional tensions following an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. The strike targeted a base south of Baghdad used by Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), killing four members and wounding four others. The PMF, which includes Iran-aligned militias, did not specify the attacker’s identity.

U.S. officials said the strike aimed at militants planning drone attacks against U.S. and coalition forces, though they did not disclose details on casualties. This was the first U.S. strike in Iraq since February, when the U.S. targeted Iranian-linked militias in Iraq and Syria.

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The situation follows heightened regional conflict, including an Israeli airstrike that increased fears of broader escalation. Iraq, a rare ally of both the U.S. and Iran, hosts 2,500 U.S. troops and is experiencing rising tensions with Iran-aligned factions calling for U.S. troop withdrawal.

Iraq plans to have U.S. troops withdraw by September 2025, with some remaining in an advisory role. This move is politically charged, reflecting Iraq’s desire to assert sovereignty while the U.S. aims to counter Iranian influence in the region.