Six Iraqi paramilitary fighters were killed in an airstrike on their base, with tensions high following recent US-Israeli and Iranian cross-border attacks.

BAGHDAD: Six members of Iraq’s paramilitary Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) were killed and three others wounded in an unidentified airstrike targeting their headquarters in northern Iraq early Tuesday.

The Iraqi Joint Operations Command’s Security Media Cell confirmed the attack hit a PMF group in the Dibis district of Kirkuk province, condemning it as a “blatant attack on Iraq” that targeted members performing their national duty.

A local security source said the strike damaged the headquarters of the PMF’s 40th Brigade in addition to causing the casualties.

This incident follows attacks over recent days that have killed more than 10 PMF members, which the group has blamed on joint United States and Israeli operations.

Separately, Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region reported its counter-terrorism forces shot down three explosive-laden drones over the regional capital Erbil on Monday night.

The Directorate General of Counter Terrorism stated one of the downed drones fell near the United Arab Emirates consulate in the city.

The counter-terrorism service also released video showing the PMF’s 40th Brigade headquarters in Kirkuk engulfed in flames after the cited attack.

These events occur amid heightened regional tensions following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on Feb 28.

Iran has responded to those strikes with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US assets across West Asia.

 The Sun Malaysia