Iraq: 7 Soldiers Martyred, 13 Injured in Airstrike on Habbaniyah Base

Iraq: 7 Soldiers Martyred, 13 Injured in Airstrike on Habbaniyah Base
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Seven Iraqi soldiers were martyred and 13 others injured in an airstrike targeting Habbaniyah Airbase in western Iraq, the Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the ministry said the strike hit the base’s military hospital and engineering facilities, followed by additional aerial shelling, causing casualties among personnel carrying out their duties.

The ministry condemned the attack as a “serious violation” of international laws and norms, particularly those prohibiting the targeting of medical facilities and staff. It added that Iraq reserves the right to respond through all legal means.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. The incident came hours after Iraq’s National Security Council affirmed the country’s right to respond to any military aggression targeting its security forces.

The strike occurs amid heightened regional tensions following the escalation of conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran since late February, with Iraq increasingly affected by spillover violence.

In recent weeks, U.S. strikes have targeted positions of armed Iraqi factions, including groups linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces, which Washington considers aligned with Iran.

Meanwhile, factions operating under the umbrella of the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” have carried out near-daily drone and rocket attacks on U.S. military bases in Iraq. These groups have also targeted the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and facilities at Baghdad International Airport, as well as sites in Erbil, where coalition forces are stationed.