Popular Mobilization Forces personnal stand by a burning truck after a drone attack, blamed on Israel, in western Iraq near the Syria border, August 25, 2019 (AP)

Iran-backed Iraqi militia have been hit by another drone strike inside Iraq near the Syria border.

Israel is suspected of the attacks, which began this summer on elements of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces. Five were near the Syrian border, one in northern Iraq near Iran, and two near the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Strikes on September 9 reportedly killed 18 militiamen and destroyed eight warehouses, while attacks on September 18 killed five and wounded nine.

Syria Daily, Sept 18: Another Strike on Iran-Supported Militia in East
Syria Daily, Sept 19: Airstrikes on Iran-Backed Militia in East
Syria Daily, August 27: Israel Accused of Strikes on Iran-Backed Militia Near Border with Iraq

The strike late Friday was on a position across the border from the eastern Syria city of al-Bukamal. No casualties have been reported.

On Tuesday, satellite images from the private Israeli intelligence company ImageSat International indicated an expansion of construction at compounds, reportly controlled by Iran, near al-Bukamal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded the withdrawal of all Iranian military personnel from Syria, and Israeli officials have warned they will not tolerate a “land bridge” for Iran to move weapons, fighters, and equipment through Syria to areas such as Lebanon.

Iraqi officials said on Friday that they were opening a major border crossing near al-Bukamal.

Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes against Assad regime, Iranian, and Hezbollah targets during Syria’s 101-month conflict. The attacks initially focused on Iranian transfers of weapons and missiles to Hezbollah and on the movement of Iranian and Hezbollah personnel to southwest Syria near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and expanded across the country in the past 18 months.