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On February 13, 2024, Sabereen News, a Telegram outlet affiliated with Iran-backed militias in Iraq, published a letter sent by the Russian Ambassador to Iraq, Elbrus Kutrashev, to Falah Al-Fayyad, the head of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), offering condolences to the families of PMU fighters who were killed in the recent U.S. strikes.[1]
Dated "February 2024," the letter comes a few days after a U.S. drone targeted a senior commander of the PMU and Hizbullah Brigades, Baqir Al-Sa'adi in Baghdad, on February 7.
Prior to that, the U.S. conducted strikes in Anbar and Baghdad, targeting bases and leaders of the PMU and Iran-backed militias, who had been claiming attacks against U.S. bases in the region in support of the October 7 Hamas attack against Israel.
'Unjust, Inhumane U.S Attack'
Discussing the U.S. retaliatory strikes, Ambassador Kutrashev described them as "unjust, illegitimate and inhumane."
He wrote: "On my own behalf and on behalf of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Iraq, allow me to express my deepest sorrow and sincere condolences to your excellency and the families of the martyrs of the Popular Mobilization Units, may Allah have mercy on them, following the unjust, illegal, and inhumane recent American strikes. I share the pain of the heroes of the Popular Mobilization Units and extend my deepest condolences to their honorable families."
"PMU Role Cannot Be Overstated"
Praising the PMU, which consists of several Iran-backed militias that have claimed responsibility for attacks on U.S. bases in the region in support of the Hamas attack against Israel, the letter also highlighted their participation in the counter-terrorism campaign against the Islamic State (ISIS).
"The role of members of the Popular Mobilization Units in the just battle against the terrorists and in defense of the friendly Iraqi people cannot be overstated. I wish a speedy recovery to all the wounded innocents," the letter read.
[1] Telegram, February 13, 2024.
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