Akram al-Kaabi, secretary-general of the Iran-aligned Harakat al-Nujaba movement, said the resistance wants to remove the United States from Iraq at all levels. This includes security, military, political, economic, and cultural aspects. He stressed the urgent need to end the American presence in Iraq in a Thursday statement.
“After we expelled the American occupation from Iraq in 2010, they returned to continue their ISIS project,” Kaabi said. Furthermore, he accused U.S. forces of violating agreements with Baghdad by using their bases to attack neighboring countries.
Kaabi added, “We do not know who supports them. Therefore, the resistance aims to purify Iraq and remove the United States from Iraq at all levels.” His comments come amid escalating tensions and attacks linked to the regional conflict that started on February 28.
Earlier Thursday, Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) reported that American airstrikes had targeted its headquarters in seven governorates since the conflict’s start. These strikes killed 27 fighters and wounded 50 others. The PMF strongly condemned the attacks, calling them blatant aggression and serious violations of Iraqi sovereignty.
Meanwhile, the airstrikes continue across multiple regions. One strike hit a PMF base in the Badr neighborhood of Kirkuk, which belongs to a brigade of Turkmen fighters under Abu Ali Beg. Local PMF sources reported one fighter killed and seven wounded, though some sources cited higher casualties.
In addition, an airstrike targeted the PMF’s 19th Brigade in the Akashat area of Anbar, near the Iraq-Syria border. Officials reported significant damage but have not confirmed the full extent of casualties. Neither the United States nor Israel has claimed responsibility for these attacks.
Analysts warn that the continued airstrikes and political tension risk further destabilizing Iraq. Leaders emphasize the need to protect sovereignty and prevent foreign interference in internal affairs.
The resistance and PMF stress that Iraq must regain control over its territory. As Kaabi declared, the ultimate goal remains to remove the United States from Iraq entirely.
The repeated attacks and statements from armed groups signal that the struggle over Iraq’s sovereignty will remain central in the coming months, as regional powers continue to influence the conflict.
