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US strike kills 4 Kataib Imam Ali fighters in Kirkuk

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Key Developments
  • ▸Four fighters from Iran-backed Kataib Imam Ali, a group affiliated with Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), were killed and 12 others wounded in an airstrike on their position in the Dibis district of Kirkuk province, the group said, blaming the United States — Al Jazeera/AFP, March 10, 2026.
  • ▸The Iraqi government's security information cell confirmed that several PMF fighters were killed in a 'bombing' in Kirkuk but did not attribute the strike to any party — Al Jazeera, March 10, 2026.
  • ▸On the same day, Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed they struck the US Al-Harir Air Base in Iraq's Kurdistan region with five missiles, stating this in a Telegram post — IRGC statement via Al Jazeera, March 10, 2026.
  • ▸Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, in a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stressed that Iraqi airspace, territory, and waters must not be used for any military action targeting neighbouring countries — Iraqi PM media office statement, March 10, 2026.
  • ▸The Pentagon had previously acknowledged, the week prior, that US combat helicopters had carried out strikes against pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq during the current conflict, but has not commented on specific operations — Times of Israel/AFP reporting.

US strike kills 4 Kataib Imam Ali fighters in Kirkuk

Confidence: MEDIUM (72/100)  |  April 06, 2026  | 

US strike kills 4 Kataib Imam Ali fighters in Kirkuk aljazeera.com

In one sentence: Four Kataib Imam Ali fighters were killed and 12 wounded in an airstrike on their position in Dibis district, Kirkuk, which the group blamed on the United States.

Why it matters: The strike is part of a sustained US campaign against Iran-aligned PMF factions across Iraq since the US-Israeli war on Iran began February 28, 2026. The US has not publicly claimed any strikes in Iraq, complicating Baghdad's ability to formally protest. Iraqi PM Sudani simultaneously told Secretary Rubio that Iraq must not be used as a launchpad for regional attacks, signalling Baghdad's acute diplomatic bind between Washington and Tehran.

What Happened Today

  • Four fighters from Iran-backed Kataib Imam Ali, a group affiliated with Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), were killed and 12 others wounded in an airstrike on their position in the Dibis district of Kirkuk province, the group said, blaming the United States — Al Jazeera/AFP, March 10, 2026.
  • The Iraqi government's security information cell confirmed that several PMF fighters were killed in a 'bombing' in Kirkuk but did not attribute the strike to any party — Al Jazeera, March 10, 2026.
  • On the same day, Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed they struck the US Al-Harir Air Base in Iraq's Kurdistan region with five missiles, stating this in a Telegram post — IRGC statement via Al Jazeera, March 10, 2026.
  • Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, in a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stressed that Iraqi airspace, territory, and waters must not be used for any military action targeting neighbouring countries — Iraqi PM media office statement, March 10, 2026.
  • The Pentagon had previously acknowledged, the week prior, that US combat helicopters had carried out strikes against pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq during the current conflict, but has not commented on specific operations — Times of Israel/AFP reporting.

Contested Claims

  • Kataib Imam Ali statement via Al Jazeera/AFP: Kataib Imam Ali said its four fighters were killed in 'American aggression' against their position in Dibis, Kirkuk. Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) analysis, March 11, 2026; Times of Israel: The United States has not commented on or claimed any offensive military operations in Iraq.

Unverified / Single Source

  • (Unverified — single source — a regional outlet; not independently corroborated by a second wire agency at the time of reporting) Four of the fighters killed near Kirkuk were specifically from Kataib Imam Ali militia. [The New Region (cited by FDD)]
  • (Unverified — single source; state/militia attribution only — US has not confirmed or denied) The strike was carried out by US forces. [Kataib Imam Ali statement]

Numbers

MetricTodayWar Total
PMF fighters killed in Dibis/Kirkuk strike4 killed—
PMF fighters wounded in Dibis/Kirkuk strike12 wounded—
IRGC missiles fired at US Al-Harir Air Base (same day)5 missiles—
PMF fighters killed in airstrikes since February 28, 2026 (self-reported)—60+ killed, 100+ wounded
US airstrikes on PMF headquarters in Iraq since February 28 (PMF count, as of March 12)—32 strikes across 7 governorates
Drone/missile attacks on Kurdistan Region since late February 2026—450+ drones and missiles
Sources: Kataib Imam Ali statement via Al Jazeera/AFP, Kurdistan Regional Government, cited by Wikipedia/Reuters, late March 2026, IRGC Telegram statement via Al Jazeera, Haid al-Amiri, Badr Organization head, via FDD, circa March 20, 2026, PMF statement to Iraqi News Agency, via FDD

Frequently Asked Questions

Who carried out the airstrike that killed four fighters in Kirkuk on March 10, 2026? No government has officially claimed the strike. Kataib Imam Ali blamed the United States, and the Iraqi government security cell confirmed the deaths without attribution. The Pentagon has not commented on specific strikes in Iraq, though it previously acknowledged US helicopters conducted operations against pro-Iran groups during the conflict.

What is Kataib Imam Ali and how is it linked to Iran? Kataib Imam Ali is an Iran-backed armed faction affiliated with Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), the mostly Shia paramilitary alliance formally integrated into Iraq's state security forces. It is part of the broader network of Iranian proxy groups operating in Iraq under the Islamic Resistance in Iraq umbrella.

What is Iraq's official position on strikes against PMF groups on its territory? Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has condemned strikes on PMF positions as 'systematic and repeated aggression' and called on the US not to use Iraqi airspace or territory for military action. Baghdad has not formally expelled US forces but has lodged diplomatic protests and rejected attempts to drag Iraq into the wider Iran war.

Background

The 2026 Iran war began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and targeting military and nuclear infrastructure. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israel, Gulf states hosting US bases, and targets in Iraq. Iraq's PMF — Iran-aligned paramilitary factions integrated into the Iraqi army — became targets of counter-strikes, while simultaneously launching their own attacks on US bases and diplomatic sites across Iraq.

Sources

US strike kills 4 Kataib Imam Ali fighters in Kirkuk
Image via aljazeera.com
Source Verification
✓ Verified Facts
  • ✓Four fighters from Iran-backed Kataib Imam Ali, a group affiliated with Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), were killed and 12 others wounded in an airstrike on their position in the Dibis district of Kirkuk province, the group said, blaming the United States — Al Jazeera/AFP, March 10, 2026.
  • ✓The Iraqi government's security information cell confirmed that several PMF fighters were killed in a 'bombing' in Kirkuk but did not attribute the strike to any party — Al Jazeera, March 10, 2026.
  • ✓On the same day, Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed they struck the US Al-Harir Air Base in Iraq's Kurdistan region with five missiles, stating this in a Telegram post — IRGC statement via Al Jazeera, March 10, 2026.
  • ✓Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, in a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stressed that Iraqi airspace, territory, and waters must not be used for any military action targeting neighbouring countries — Iraqi PM media office statement, March 10, 2026.
  • ✓The Pentagon had previously acknowledged, the week prior, that US combat helicopters had carried out strikes against pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq during the current conflict, but has not commented on specific operations — Times of Israel/AFP reporting.
⚠ Disputed Claims
  • ⚠
    Kataib Imam Ali statement via Al Jazeera/AFP
    Kataib Imam Ali said its four fighters were killed in 'American aggression' against their position in Dibis, Kirkuk.
    vs
    Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) analysis, March 11, 2026; Times of Israel
    The United States has not commented on or claimed any offensive military operations in Iraq.
○ Unconfirmed
  • ○
    Four of the fighters killed near Kirkuk were specifically from Kataib Imam Ali militia.(The New Region (cited by FDD))
  • ○
    The strike was carried out by US forces.(Kataib Imam Ali statement)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who carried out the airstrike that killed four fighters in Kirkuk on March 10, 2026?
No government has officially claimed the strike. Kataib Imam Ali blamed the United States, and the Iraqi government security cell confirmed the deaths without attribution. The Pentagon has not commented on specific strikes in Iraq, though it previously acknowledged US helicopters conducted operations against pro-Iran groups during the conflict.
What is Kataib Imam Ali and how is it linked to Iran?
Kataib Imam Ali is an Iran-backed armed faction affiliated with Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), the mostly Shia paramilitary alliance formally integrated into Iraq's state security forces. It is part of the broader network of Iranian proxy groups operating in Iraq under the Islamic Resistance in Iraq umbrella.
What is Iraq's official position on strikes against PMF groups on its territory?
Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has condemned strikes on PMF positions as 'systematic and repeated aggression' and called on the US not to use Iraqi airspace or territory for military action. Baghdad has not formally expelled US forces but has lodged diplomatic protests and rejected attempts to drag Iraq into the wider Iran war.