Explosion hits Iraqi military base housing pro-Iranian militia
In Iraq, a military base hosting a pro-Iranian militia has suffered significant damage due to an explosion, resulting in the tragic death of one individual and injuries to eight others, according to security officials at the site.
Iraq’s military has confirmed that no drones or fighter jets were present in the area before or during the explosion at the military base. However, the militia organization involved, the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), has attributed the incident to an attack.
This development occurs within a backdrop of heightened tensions between Israel and Iran. The PMF, an umbrella organization comprising various pro-Iranian militias, is part of Tehran’s network of proxies that have been utilized to further Iranian interests across the Middle East for an extended period.
The pro-Iranian militias, including those under the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), have previously targeted US personnel and interests in Iraq as part of their efforts to compel the remaining US troops to depart from the country. In response, the US has taken retaliatory measures against these militias.
However, the Pentagon has promptly refuted any involvement in the recent explosion at the military base housing the PMF. This denial comes amidst a longstanding confrontation between Israel and Iran, which has recently entered a more precarious phase. The heightened tensions have been exacerbated by the conflict in Gaza.
In a departure from their historical shadow conflict, both Israel and Iran now appear to have directly targeted each other’s territories, marking a significant escalation in the longstanding hostilities between the two nations.
Early on Friday morning, a presumed Israeli strike took place near the Iranian city of Isfahan. This attack was seen as a direct response to a significant drone and missile barrage launched by Tehran on Israel six days prior. Iran’s action was a retaliatory measure following an earlier strike on senior Iranian military commanders in the Syrian capital Damascus, an attack widely attributed to Israel. These recent events highlight the escalating tensions and tit-for-tat exchanges between Israel and Iran in the region.
While the conflict appears somewhat contained for the moment, Iranian Foreign Minister has issued a warning that Iran will swiftly deliver a “maximum” response if Israel launches significant attacks on its interests. The explosion occurred at the Kalso military base, located approximately 50km (30 miles) south of Baghdad, early on Saturday morning, as reported by the military.
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The blast resulted in the death of a member of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) and left eight others wounded. In response to the incident, the PMF stated that its chief of staff, Abdul Aziz al-Mohammedawi, visited the base to assess the findings of the ongoing investigation.
The Iraqi military has initiated an investigation into the cause of the explosion and subsequent fire at the base. In an official statement, they stated, “The air defence command report confirmed, through technical efforts and radar detection, that there was no drone or fighter jets in the airspace of Babil before and during the explosion.” This suggests that there were no aircraft present in the area at the time of the incident.
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Additionally, the US military’s Central Command swiftly denied any involvement in the incident, refuting reports that the US had conducted airstrikes in Iraq. This response was communicated in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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