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The Iraqi government has summoned the US chargé d’affaires in Baghdad to protest a deadly airstrike on a military base that killed Iraqi soldiers.

Getting into it: The strike, which took place on Wednesday morning, targeted the Habbaniyah military base in Iraq’s western Anbar province, hitting a military medical clinic and a nearby engineering unit. Iraqi officials said the attack killed seven soldiers and wounded 13 others. The base is used by both Iraq’s regular army and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a state-affiliated paramilitary network made up of dozens of militias that were originally formed to fight ISIS. While officially under government control, many PMF factions maintain close ties to Iran and receive funding, training, and support from Tehran, making them a key part of Iran’s regional influence.

The Iraqi government strongly condemned the strike, calling it a “heinous crime” and a “blatant and serious violation” of international law, particularly because it struck a medical facility. Officials warned that targeting Iraqi security forces, especially at a site shared by the army and the PMF, crosses a red line and undermines national sovereignty. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered the foreign ministry to summon the US chargé d’affaires and deliver a formal protest, while also directing officials to file a complaint with the United Nations Security Council and other international bodies.

The Iraqi government added that it reserves the right to respond using all means permitted under international law and warned that such attacks could damage relations with the US and further destabilize the region. The government also reiterated its support for the PMF as part of Iraq’s official security apparatus, even as controversy continues over the group’s ties to Iran-backed militias.

The strike comes as the US has ramped up military action in Iraq, carrying out airstrikes against Iran-aligned militias that have launched repeated drone and missile attacks on US forces, diplomatic sites, and regional assets.