Who was Mushtaq Talib al-Saidi? Pro-Iran commander in Iraq killed in American strike

Mushtaq Talib al-Saidi, a pro-Iran militia commander in Iraq, was reportedly killed in an American strike in Baghdad on January 4, 2024. Al-Saidi was known as the deputy commander of operations for Baghdad and was associated with Harakat al-Nujaba, a faction within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)​​​​​​.

Harakat al-Nujaba, confirming his death, referred to al-Saidi as having been “martyred in a US strike”​​​​​​. The PMF is a coalition of various militia groups in Iraq, and al-Saidi, also known as Abu Taqwa, played a significant role within this coalition as the assistant commander of Baghdad Belt Operations​​​​​​.

The strike reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least one other Iraqi official and injuries to five others. The incident has heightened tensions in the region, especially considering the involvement of Iran-backed militias in Iraq​​​​.

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Mushtaq Talib al-Saidi’s role and influence in the PMF, along with the circumstances of his death in the alleged US strike, underscore the complex dynamics of military and political power in Iraq, particularly in relation to the influence of Iran-backed groups.