Iraq pulled into Iran war as US targets Iran-aligned groups

Iraq is increasingly caught between the US and Iran as the regional war escalates, deepening economic woes.Air strikes have targeted the headquarters of the Iran-aligned Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) in Iraq’s capital Baghdad, as the country becomes a two-way battlefield between armed factions and the US amid its ongoing war with Iran.The US carried out strikes against the Shia umbrella group, also known locally as Hashed al-Shaabi, late on Sunday after attacks on a US diplomat and logistics centre at Baghdad-international-airport" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="39176" data-entity-type="location">Baghdad International Airport.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Did Israel miscalculate Iranian military capabilities?list 2 of 3‘Risk of escalation is extremely high as Iran shows it can retaliate’list 3 of 3‘We do it together, in confidence’: Netanyahu backs US strikes on Iranend of list“Units of the PMF were targeted by drone strikes and airstrikes, with three strikes in different locations,” a statement from a local emergency crisis cell said, adding that there were no wounded as the positions were deserted.This came after Iraqi security officials said four explosions were heard near the US’ Camp Victory logistics centre at the capital’s main airport. Al Jazeera’s Assed Baig, reporting from Baghdad, said some drones “breached air defences and caused damage, more symbolic damage than anything else.”“At the same time, Iraqi security forces have set up checkpoints around Baghdad to try and stop these drone strikes because some of these factions are launching drones from the vicinity of Baghdad,” he said.Beig added that such attacks put local authorities “in a very difficult position, trying to balance the relationship with the US and these very powerful armed groups.”Nicolas Haque, also reporting from Iraq’s capital, said Iraqis don’t want to be dragged into the war with Iran, which began on February 28 after the US and Israel launched joint air strikes.