ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The US on Monday extended its condolences to the families of victims of an attack by a group affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Baghdad the day before, calling on the authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable.

An armed group stormed an agriculture ministry department in Baghdad on Sunday upon the appointment of a new manager for the department. At least one police officer and one civilian were killed in the attack, in addition to several officers and personnel injured during the confrontations.

“We offer our condolences to the families of the victims who were killed by Kataib Hezballah, a US-designated terrorist organization within the Popular Mobilization Forces, on July 27 at a Ministry of Agriculture department in Baghdad,” read an X post from the US Embassy in Baghdad.

Security forces were able to arrest 14 individuals implicated in the attack, who were found to be members of brigades 45 and 46 of the PMF, according to a statement by the Joint Operations Command. The two brigades are led by Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, secretary-general of the Kataib Hezbollah.

“We call on the Government of Iraq to take measures to bring these perpetrators and their leaders to justice without delay. Accountability is essential to upholding the rule of law and preventing further acts of violence,” the embassy added.

The Joint Operations Command announced that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani had ordered the formation of a ”high-level” committee to investigate the incident.

The PMF later on Sunday reaffirmed that it “will have absolutely no tolerance for any individual who exceeds orders or violates established security procedures” in light of the attack, adding that their forces exist “to serve as a shield for the nation and an extension of official security institutions.”

The PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi, was formed upon a call by Iraq’s top Shiite authority Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani soon after the Islamic State (ISIS) took over large swathes of territory in Iraq. The force has been officially incorporated into the Iraqi armed forces, enjoying similar privileges as the Iraqi army.

The PMF have long faced criticism for their links to Iran and allegations that the Iraqi government’s control over the group is tenuous.

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