Nineveh Plains Residents Condemn Airstrikes on PMF Positions
At a Glance
- Nineveh Plains residents expressed deep concern following airstrikes on the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) 30th Brigade headquarters.
- According to local accounts provided to Channel8, the strikes left 10 PMF members dead and six to eight injured.
- Locals blamed foreign actors for attempting to destabilize the region and spark sectarian division between Sunnis and Shiites.
- Residents urged the federal government to defend Iraqi sovereignty and curb the unauthorized use of national airspace.
In statements provided to Channel8, residents of the Nineveh Plains expressed deep concern over recent airstrikes targeting Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) positions, asserting that the attacks carried political motives aimed at destabilizing the region.
Key Statements and Focus Area
- Locals reported that the strikes on the 4th Battalion headquarters of the 30th Brigade under the Nineveh Operations Command resulted in 10 deaths, six to eight injuries, and extensive damage to military equipment.
- Residents attributed the attack to foreign powers, pointing to the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, questioning why official Iraqi forces were targeted without direct provocation.
- Community members emphasized that regional unity remains intact while calling on Baghdad to take decisive legal and diplomatic measures against violations of Iraqi airspace.
Witnesses described hearing multiple heavy explosions early yesterday morning, followed by thick smoke rising from the targeted military compound. Residents questioned the rationale behind attacking state-affiliated forces and expressed concern that Iraq is being turned into an arena for broader regional confrontations.
Local leaders and eyewitnesses stressed that the strikes aimed to sow division between Sunni and Shiite communities in the area. Reaffirming their support for security forces, community members urged the federal government to treat the PMF as an official state institution and enact strict safeguards to protect civilian lives and military personnel from foreign military action.
FYI
The Nineveh Plains represent one of Iraq's most diverse ethnoreligious corridors, home to Christian, Shabak, Turkmen, and Arab populations. The 30th Brigade of the PMF, composed largely of local Shabak fighters, maintains a heavy security presence across the area. Given the region's complex history following the defeat of ISIS, military action in Nineveh frequently heightens local anxieties regarding political control, demographic stability, and the broader integration of PMF units into the official state defense apparatus.
Dive Deeper: Handpicked Stories for You
Follow Channel8 for continuous updates:
https://channel8.com/english/news/62449
1 hour ago