ISTANBUL 

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Friday condemned the targeting of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), calling it a “blatant aggression” and a serious violation of Iraq’s sovereignty.

In a statement posted on the US social media company X’s platform, Maliki said expanding the US-Israeli war against Iran into Iraqi territory and striking the PMF amounts to an attack on Iraqi forces, facilities and figures.

He urged the government and political forces to unite in a “cohesive national front” to take the necessary measures in response to what he described as violations carried out by “Zionist forces backed by the United States.”

Maliki also said the Iraqi people have clearly rejected and condemned the targeting of Iraqi nationals and institutions.

His remarks came a day after at least 30 people were killed and dozens injured in airstrikes targeting the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Anbar province in western Iraq, Iraqi media reported.

Shafaq News, citing a security source, said the strikes targeted at least three sites belonging to the PMF’s 19th Brigade in the town of Akashat in western Anbar.

Regional tensions have intensified since Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran on Feb. 28 that has killed 1,300 people and injured over 10,000 others so far, according to Iranian authorities.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Iraq and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets.

The PMF, also known as the Hashd al-Shaabi, was originally formed on June 14, 2014 as a volunteer force supporting Iraqi security forces in the fight against the ISIS (Daesh) terror group. It was formally incorporated into Iraq’s armed forces by a government decree in July 2016.