Earlier on Friday air strikes reportedly targeted high ranking Iran-backed Shi’ite militias near camp Taji north of Baghdad.
But the initial reports were not accurate.
Shiite militia leader Shibl al-Zaydi was not killed in the strike as was previously reported.
Al-Zaydi tweeted after the attack.
Iraq's PMF says air strike targeted medics, not senior leaders:… https://t.co/MSRr5O2sNu
Shibl Al Zaydi tweets to confirm he is alive: https://t.co/bGhpZiEKiS— Jacey Jay ⌖❂⌖❂⌖ (@JaceyJay1) January 4, 2020
More…
The #PMU have released a statement denying reports that senior PMU leaders (Shibl Al-Zaidi, Hamid Al-Jazaeri, Raed Al-Karawi) were killed in the #Taji strike. The statement added that the PMU will conduct an investigation into the attack. pic.twitter.com/BuhDPns0xS
— Mohammed (@MazAlJumaily) January 4, 2020
And the US may not have been behind the strikes.
#NEW: An American official who spoke on the condition on anonymity denied the U.S. was behind a reported strike attack on two vehicles north of Baghdad, which killed five people earlier today. (Per @AP)
— Jenn Franco KESQ (@jennfranconews) January 4, 2020
The original reports were that al Zaydi was killed in the strikes.
https://twitter.com/Imamofpeace/status/1213234101320183808
At least six burned corpses were recovered.
What we know about tonight’s strikes, according to #Iraq’s security forces:
• Taji district, north of #Baghdad,
• Convoy of 3 vehicles struck, 2 burned,
• At least 6 burned corpses found,
• Strikes took place at 1:15am local time,
• Hashd leadership targeted. pic.twitter.com/ZW2vLuWAYv— H. Sumeri (@IraqiSecurity) January 3, 2020
