TEL AVIV — Airstrikes targeting positions in northern Iraq resulted in the deaths of two Popular Mobilisation Forces fighters on Thursday evening, according to militia sources, in an escalation that followed closely behind peace overtures from Tehran-aligned groups.

The deadly strikes occurred mere hours after Kataib Hezbollah, one of Iraq's most prominent Iran-backed militias, announced it would conditionally suspend operations against United States embassy facilities. The group's statement had been viewed by regional analysts as a potential de-escalation signal amid mounting tensions between Washington and Tehran's proxy network.

"This apparent contradiction between diplomatic gestures and continued military operations reflects the complex command structure within Iran's regional alliance system," said Dr. Yossi Mansharof, a Iran specialist at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security. "Different militia groups operate with varying degrees of autonomy from Tehran's central coordination."

The Popular Mobilisation Forces, known locally as Hashd al-Shaabi, comprises dozens of predominantly Shia militia groups that were formally integrated into Iraq's security apparatus following the campaign against Islamic State. While officially under Baghdad's command, many units maintain strong operational ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and have participated in attacks against American interests across the region.