Hashd Sha’abi says Israel behind deadly drone attack in Iraq

Iraq’s pro-government Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha’abi, says Zionist regime was behind a recent deadly drone attack that martyred two people near the Syrian border.

According to Press TV, two unmanned aircraft carried out air raids on an area about 15 km (9 miles) away from Iraq's border with Syria on Sunday.

"As part of the string of Zionist attacks on Iraq, the evil Israeli crows have returned to target the Hashd al-Sha’abi, this time with two drones inside Iraqi territory," the group said in a statement.

The statement added that the attack left one fighter martyred and another seriously wounded. Initial reports said two fighters were martyred in the attack, which was carried out under American air cover.

"This blatant attack came with air cover over the area from American planes, in addition to a large balloon to monitor the area near the site of the incident," it said.

Reports said that one of the Sunday’s airstrikes hit the headquarters of a Hashd al-Sha’abi unit, while the other struck a convoy of cars leaving the building.

The air raids are the latest in a series of attacks that have targeted positions of the Hashd al-Sha’abi forces across Iraq over the past months.

The attacks began on July 19 when a drone dropped explosives onto a PMU base near the town of Amerli, in Salahuddin Province, killing at least one resistance fighter and injuring four others.

The fourth attack came last week, when a PMU ammunition depot exploded near the capital Baghdad. Hashd al-Sha'abi commanders soon pointed the finger at Israel and blasted American for allowing the attacks despite having full control over the Iraqi airspace.

The Pentagon has denied involvement, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted on Thursday at possible Israeli strikes in Iraq.

Unnamed American officials confirmed on Friday that Israel was indeed behind the attacks.

ME