The U.S. military has officially acknowledged conducting a drone strike in Baghdad that resulted in the death of Mushtaq Taleb al-Saidi, the deputy head of operations for the Popular Mobilisation Force (PMF).

The PMF, associated with Iraq’s armed forces, operates independently of the government’s full control. The strike specifically targeted a leader of Harakat al Nujaba, a Shia militia within the PMF.

Amid rising regional tensions stemming from the conflict in Gaza, the drone strike adds a layer of complexity to the geopolitical landscape.

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The PMF’s activities have been linked to attacks against American forces in Iraq.

The strike has drawn condemnation from Iraq’s foreign ministry, asserting the country’s right to take measures to protect its land and security forces.

Reports from Iraqi police sources and witnesses indicate that at least two rockets were fired by a drone at a facility in eastern Baghdad used by the Iraqi militia group al-Nujaba.

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The organization, backed by Iran, was designated as a terrorist group in 2019 by the Trump administration.