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Air strike hits Iraq base housing pro-Iran group: faction sources

March 03, 2026 5 min read International Relations Internal Security GS Paper 2 (International Relations)
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What Happened

  • An air strike hit a base in Iraq housing pro-Iranian militia groups, according to faction sources, as part of the expanding US-Israel military campaign following joint strikes on Iran that began on February 28, 2026.
  • The specific strike targeted the Jurf al-Sakhr (also known as Jurf al-Nasr) base north of Baghdad, which houses the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) — a coalition of mostly Shia paramilitary groups — and the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah.
  • Additional strikes targeted the headquarters of the PMF 30th Brigade in the Ninewa Plains.
  • Between February 28 and March 3, 2026, the US-Israel coalition conducted multiple waves of strikes targeting key sites belonging to Iran-backed PMF brigades, killing at least 10.
  • Iraqi Shia militias had joined the conflict by launching drone attacks against US and Israeli assets as part of Iran's retaliatory wave.
  • The strikes highlight Iraq's precarious position: the country hosts both US forces (under a bilateral security framework) and Iran-backed PMF militias that are officially integrated into the Iraqi state security structure (since the 2018 PMF Law).
  • Iraq's government faces a sovereign dilemma: US strikes on Iraqi soil target PMF groups that are legally part of the Iraqi state, while the Iraqi government has demanded respect for its sovereignty.

Static Topic Bridges

The Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), known in Arabic as Hashd al-Sha'abi, are an umbrella organisation of over 50 armed groups, predominantly Shia, formed in 2014 to combat ISIS following a fatwa by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. They were formally integrated into Iraq's state security apparatus by law in 2018.

  • The PMF includes groups with varying degrees of Iranian influence: Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl al-Haq are closely aligned with Iran's IRGC; others maintain Iraqi nationalist orientations.
  • Kataib Hezbollah was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) by the US in 2009.
  • The Jurf al-Sakhr area has been a strategic hub for PMF operations; it is largely off-limits to civilians and has been described as a de facto Iranian-controlled corridor.
  • PMF integration into the Iraqi state creates a fundamental tension: they are simultaneously a state security force and instruments of Iranian influence projection.
  • The January 2024 US strikes on PMF targets in Iraq and Syria (Operation Inherent Resolve retaliation) set a precedent for this conflict cycle.

Connection to this news: The strike on Jurf al-Sakhr directly targets the PMF's most Iran-aligned elements, testing whether Iraq's formal integration of these groups into state structures provides them legal immunity from US-Israel strikes — a question with significant implications for Iraqi sovereignty and the future of US forces in Iraq.

Iran's "Axis of Resistance": Strategic Concept and Regional Network

Iran's "Axis of Resistance" (Mihwar al-Muqawama) refers to Iran's network of allied non-state and quasi-state armed groups across the Middle East, used to project power, deter adversaries, and fight proxy conflicts. It is the operational expression of Iran's doctrine of "forward defence."

  • Key members: Hezbollah (Lebanon), Hamas and Islamic Jihad (Palestine), Houthis/Ansar Allah (Yemen), PMF/Kataib Hezbollah (Iraq), various Syrian militias.
  • Iran's IRGC-Quds Force is the primary instrument for training, arming, and coordinating these groups.
  • The doctrine uses "strategic patience" — avoiding direct confrontation with superior military forces while bleeding adversaries through proxies.
  • Following the killing of IRGC-Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Esmail Qaani assumed command; the network has continued to expand.
  • The 2023-2025 period saw major escalations: Gaza conflict (October 2023), Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, and Iran's direct ballistic missile strikes on Israel (April 2024).

Connection to this news: The strikes on Iraqi PMF bases reflect a US-Israel strategy of dismantling Iran's Axis of Resistance infrastructure systematically — not just targeting Iran proper, but degrading its regional proxy network to prevent sustained retaliatory capability.

West Asia and India's Strategic Interests

West Asia (the Middle East) is central to India's strategic calculus: energy security, diaspora welfare, trade routes, and counter-terrorism cooperation all converge in the region.

  • India imports ~85% of its crude oil; Gulf countries supply approximately 55-60% of India's crude imports (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Kuwait are top suppliers).
  • Iraq is consistently among India's top 3 crude oil suppliers; any instability in Iraq directly affects India's energy supply.
  • The Strait of Hormuz, through which ~20% of global oil trade passes, is adjacent to the conflict theatre.
  • India has maintained a policy of strategic autonomy: it has not joined Western-led coalitions against Iran and maintains energy, trade, and diplomatic ties with Tehran.
  • India is a member of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which runs through Iran — connecting India to Russia and Central Asia.
  • Operation Raahat (Yemen, 2015), Operation Kaveri (Sudan, 2023), and the 2026 Gulf repatriation all demonstrate India's recurring need to protect its Gulf diaspora during regional conflicts.

Connection to this news: Strikes on Iraqi bases underscore the fragility of Iraq's stability — and by extension, the reliability of India's oil supply from Iraq and the security of over 3 lakh Indians residing in Iraq. The conflict directly tests India's ability to maintain strategic ties with both the US-Israel axis and Iran simultaneously.

Key Facts & Data

  • Strikes on Jurf al-Sakhr and Ninewa Plains bases: part of US-Israel campaign (February 28 – March 3, 2026).
  • Targets: Kataib Hezbollah, Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) 30th Brigade.
  • At least 10 killed in strikes on Iran-backed PMF sites (February 28 – March 3, 2026).
  • PMF formally integrated into Iraqi state security: PMF Law, 2018.
  • Kataib Hezbollah: designated US Foreign Terrorist Organisation since 2009.
  • Iraq is among India's top 3 crude oil suppliers; ~3 lakh Indians reside in Iraq.
  • Strait of Hormuz: ~20% of global oil trade passes through it.
  • INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor): India-Iran-Russia-Central Asia connectivity corridor.
  • US-Israel joint operation names: Operation Epic Fury (US), Operation Roaring Lion (Israel).