Five Iran-backed fighters were killed in Iraq on Tuesday in strikes their groups blamed on the United States, escalating tensions amid the wider regional conflict. Four members of the Kataeb Imam Ali group died in a dawn strike on a position in Kirkuk province, while a fighter from Kataeb Hezbollah was killed later near the Iraqi-Syrian border.

The targeted sites were linked to the Hashed Al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, an alliance integrated into Iraq's regular army that includes several Iran-backed factions. The strikes come as Iraq continues to navigate rising hostilities tied to the ongoing Middle East war.

Drone attacks also targeted military installations hosting United States personnel, including a base at Baghdad International Airport and sites in the Kurdistan region. While some drones caused minor damage, there were no reported casualties. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had targeted a United States base in the region, underscoring the growing confrontation on Iraqi soil.