At least five supporters of the Shiite militia "Hashd al-Shaabi" were killed in a bombing of their positions in northern Iraq, Al-Hadath TV reported.
According to Iraqi security sources, the bombing targeted positions of the militia's 40th brigade in the Dibis district near Kirkuk.
The "Hashd al-Shaabi" militia was formed during the fight against the "Islamic State" in Iraq and played a significant role in the defeat of ISIS. The Shiite militia is officially part of the Iraqi army, but the United States considers the “Hashd al-Shaabi“ a pro-Iranian organization that Washington believes is supported and financed by the authorities in Tehran.
Paramilitary groups operating in Iraq said they had carried out approximately 40 military operations in the past 24 hours against US and allied targets, both inside and outside Iraq, according to a statement by the Islamic Resistance of Iraq, an alliance that includes several pro-Iranian Shiite groups.
Meanwhile, Iraq proposed the creation of a diplomatic alliance consisting of Middle Eastern countries and the European Union to end the armed conflict in the region.
Some countries have approached Iranian authorities about a possible ceasefire in the current conflict in the region, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharib Abadi said.