American helicopter attacks position near Popular Mobilization Forces in Rashidiya, north of Mosul, according to a security source in Nineveh

A US forces helicopter carried out an airstrike Friday night against a location near a strategic position of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in the Rashidiya area, north of Mosul, in Nineveh province. The information was confirmed by a local security source to the Iraqi press, who described the bombing as targeting the entrance to the Qubba and Sharikhan regions, adjacent to the main PMF base in Rashidiya.

According to the source, who requested anonymity for security reasons, the attack occurred around 10 PM local time (7 PM UTC) and involved one or more attack helicopters – possibly AH-64 Apache – operating from American bases in northern Iraq or Syria. There were no immediate reports of casualties among PMF fighters or civilians, but the area was cordoned off by Iraqi security forces after the incident. Explosions and anti-aircraft fire were heard by nearby residents. The Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of mostly Shiite militias aligned with Iran, have maintained a strong presence in Rashidiya since the liberation of Mosul from the Islamic State in 2017. The region is considered a sensitive point due to its proximity to supply routes for pro-Iranian groups in northern Iraq and the border with Syria.

The attack occurs amidst regional escalation between Iran, the United States, and Israel, with multiple Iraqi militias supported by Iran having claimed or suffered retaliatory actions from the US in recent days. The US-led International Coalition, which maintains a residual presence in Iraq to combat remnants of Daesh, has not officially commented on the incident so far. US military sources in Baghdad and the Pentagon usually classify such operations as "defensive" or "collective self-defense" when directed at imminent threats against US or allied forces. However, direct attacks on PMF positions have been rare since the beginning of the gradual withdrawal of American troops in 2021-2022.

The episode reinforces tensions between the Iraqi government, which seeks a balance between Washington and Tehran, and pro-Iranian militias, which have intensified drone and rocket attacks against American bases in Iraq and Syria since the beginning of the Iran-Israel-US war. Analysts warn that actions like this could trigger a chain reaction of retaliations, expanding the conflict into Iraqi territory and complicating stability in the north of the country. As of the time of this report, there was no independent confirmation of the number of targets hit or of material damage. Local authorities in Mosul and Nineveh remain on high alert, while residents report an increase in PMF patrols in the region.