Thousands of Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) members and their supporters participated on Tuesday in a symbolic funeral for the PMF casualties who died in the American airstrike on the Iraqi-Syrian border early Monday. A number of Iran-backed faction members were killed on Sunday in American airstrikes targeting their positions at the Iraqi-Syrian border. The Iranian-backed Iraqi PMF stated that four of its members were killed in the airstrike.
Mourners gathered, chanting "Death to America" and "Revenge for the Martyrs" near Freedom Square in the Jadriya area of the capital Baghdad, close to the fortified Green Zone housing the U.S. and British embassies. Strict security measures were implemented, including the closure of the fortified area that has witnessed repeated incursions by Iran-aligned armed factions, including the PMF. High-ranking PMF leaders participated in the funeral, including Falih al-Fayyadh, the head of the PMF, and Hadi al-Amiri, the leader of the Badr Organization, along with National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji.
The mourners, accompanied by vehicles carrying armed individuals dressed in black, raised banners stating "Targeting the PMF must expedite the removal of American forces from the country." Pictures of PMF Deputy Chairman Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike on January 3 of last year alongside Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, were displayed at the forefront of the funeral.
The U.S. military announced in an official statement that, directed by President Joe Biden, it targeted "operational facilities and weapons storage at two sites in Syria and one site in Iraq." It indicated that the facilities targeted by the strikes "are used by Iran-backed militias participating in drone attacks against American personnel and facilities in Iraq." This marked the second time Biden ordered strikes against Iran-backed militias since assuming office five months ago.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized on Monday that American strikes should represent a "strong" message to deter these militias from continuing to target U.S. forces. The PMF factions in Iraq vowed to take revenge in response to these strikes. U.S. forces stationed in Iraq have faced drone attacks multiple times in recent months, with Iran denying any involvement. Approximately 2,500 American soldiers are stationed in Iraq as part of an international coalition fighting the Islamic State.
