ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Thursday called accusing the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) of carrying out actions outside of the law “ignorance” or “deliberate misinformation,” asserting that the government cannot tolerate their targeting.

The US and Israel have repeatedly targeted PMF sites since launching a large-scale military offensive against Iran in late February, with pro-Iran PMF factions having conducted missile and drone strikes against US interests in both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

“Accusing the [PMF] of carrying out actions outside the framework of the state and the law is an accusation that indicates either ignorance or represents deliberate misinformation, with its own objectives,” Sudani said while meeting top PMF officials, calling it “an essential force operating under the umbrella of the constitution and the law.”

The premier "affirmed that the government cannot tolerate any targeting directed at the fighters from the sons of the [PMF] and the rest of the branches and formations of our armed forces, praising the role of the Mobilization and its great sacrifices that contributed to protecting Iraq," according to a statement from his office.

At least two members of the PMF were killed in renewed strikes on their positions in Iraq's Nineveh and Salahaddin provinces, the group said on Thursday, with Badr Organization chief Hadi al-Amiri on the same day announcing that US-Israeli strikes have killed more than 60 PMF fighters and wounded over 100 since the outbreak of the conflict.

"We call upon the Iraqi Parliament and the government, especially Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, to take immediate and serious action to put an end to these heinous attacks," Amiri said in a statement.

Officially under the auspices of the Iraqi state, the activities of PMF factions have drawn outspoken condemnation from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), which has repeatedly urged Baghdad to rein in their activities amid near-daily bombardment of the Kurdistan Region.

US and Israeli strikes have killed dozens of PMF members, including Abu Ali al-Askari, security chief and spokesperson of one of Iraq’s most powerful pro-Iran armed groups, Kataib Hezbollah.

The Iraqi government has on numerous occasions condemned strikes targeting members of the armed umbrella group.