A senior leader of the Iran-backed Shiite militia and political party Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Naji Al-Kaabi, has been assassinated by gunmen while travelling in a car in eastern Iraq.

The incident follows heightened tensions in the region, particularly since the United States launched attacks on Iran-backed positions in Syria and Iraq on Friday, targeting approximately 85 sites associated with the IRGC Quds Force and affiliated militia groups.

These strikes are believed to be the initial response from President Joe Biden's administration to the weekend attacks by Iran-backed militants on a US base in Jordan. The attack resulted in the deaths of three American service members and left over 40 injured.

It was in November that the secretary-general of Asaib Ahl al-Haq strongly criticized the presence of US combat forces in the country.

In a televised statement, Qais al-Khazali said the Iraqi government is not legally authorized to approve the establishment of foreign bases in the country.

Asaib Ahl al-Haq, which operates primarily in Iraq, as well as in Syria and Lebanon, has not yet confirmed the news.