Pro-Iran group in Iraq claims its leader killed in US strike

By Anadolu staff

BAGHDAD (AA) – A leader of the pro-Iran Hashd al-Shaabi military force was killed in a US strike in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Thursday, the group confirmed.

The Iraqi Nujaba Movement, a faction of the Hashd al-Shaabi force, said in a statement that Abou Taqwa Al-Saidi was killed in the US attack.

It, however, did not provide any further details.

The Baghdad Ring Operations Command, which operates under the Hashd al-Shaabi, also confirmed Al-Saidi’s death in the US attack.

The Iraqi army early Thursday condemned a US-led coalition drone strike on an Iraqi security force in Baghdad as a “dangerous escalation.”

In a statement, military spokesman Yahya Rasoul said the US-led international coalition bears responsibility “for an unjustified attack on the security force.”

There was no comment from the US-led coalition on the incident.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar