New airstrikes hit a military base in Iraq on Monday housing the Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah, while air defence systems in the Kurdish city of Erbil intercepted several drone attacks.
“One fighter was martyred and another wounded in fresh bombing on the Jurf al-Nasr base,” a Kataeb Hezbollah source told AFP.
The base, a key stronghold of the group, has been targeted multiple times since the start of the Israel-US campaign against Iran.
Iraq, which has recently regained relative stability but remains a proxy battleground between the US and Iran, has warned against being drawn into the conflict.
Nevertheless, the country has experienced repeated strikes on Iran-backed groups, which have vowed retaliation.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Monday that “Iran continues to bomb areas in the Kurdistan Region, especially Erbil, while the opposing side targets sites in southern and western Iraq,” without directly naming Israel or the US.
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On Sunday, nine fighters from Iran-backed groups, including five from Kataeb Hezbollah, were killed in separate strikes.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, comprising several Iran-backed armed groups, has vowed not to remain neutral and pledged to defend Iran.
In Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdistan region and home to US-led coalition troops and a major US consulate complex, air defence systems downed multiple drones near the airport. AFP journalists reported hearing loud explosions as the attacks were intercepted.
In response to the escalating tensions, the French Embassy in Baghdad advised its nationals to leave Iraqi Kurdistan via Turkey, while those in Baghdad were told to remain indoors.
The US mission in Baghdad also directed US nationals and mission personnel to shelter in place, warning of potential threats from Iran-backed groups.