At least one fatality and 20 injuries were reported following an explosion at a military base in Iraq utilized by the Iran-aligned Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), as per security sources.
The PMF indicated that “the attack” occurred late on Friday, targeting the Kalsu military base situated approximately 50km (31 miles) south of Baghdad in the province of Babil (Babylon).
Videos and images from the scene depicted a significant explosion at an Iraqi military base, resulting in fires and extensive damage to surrounding trees, infrastructure, and vehicles.
Footage inside the base the following morning revealed a large crater and further destruction.
The Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) attributed the incident to “American aggression,” accusing the United States of bombing the Kalso military base near Iskandariya.
However, the Iraqi military reported no drones or fighter jets detected in the area’s airspace before or during the blast.
According to an army statement, one PMF member was killed, and eight others were injured in the explosion.
Despite the PMF’s claims, the United States military denied any involvement in the airstrikes.
The Iraqi government announced an investigation into the incident as Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is presently in the United States. The base also accommodates Iraqi federal police and Iraqi military forces.
Reporting from Baghdad, Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud Abdelwahed described the PMF’s response to the attack as portraying it as “indiscriminate.”
He stated, “Injuries included individuals with the PMF, soldiers with the Iraqi Ministry of Defence, as well as civilians who were in the vicinity of the military site when it was attacked.”
Abdelwahed noted that Camp Kalsu was under the control of US soldiers during the US-led invasion of Iraq but was handed over to the Defence Ministry in 2011.
He highlighted its features, mentioning an ammunition depot and a warehouse for tanks and other weaponry.
“All fingers are pointed towards Israel, accusing Israel of carrying out the attack,” he stated, though there was no comment from the Israeli military.
Abu Fadak al-Muhammadawi, the chief of staff of the PMF, inspected the base on Saturday.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iraqi armed factions opposed to the US and Israel, claimed responsibility for launching a retaliatory strike early Saturday.
They released a video showing a drone being launched at night, purportedly aimed at a “vital target” in the Israeli port city of Eilat.
The group has conducted numerous attacks on US and Israeli interests across the region since the conflict in Gaza began in October.
However, their activities had largely ceased since February, following a drone strike that killed three US soldiers near a base near Syria’s border with Jordan.
In response, Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, issued a statement on Saturday condemning the attack on the base, characterizing it as a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty.
Rich Outzen, a fellow at the Atlantic Council, suggested that it would be improbable for the US to have conducted such an attack, given its efforts to mitigate tensions between Iran and Israel in the region.
He noted that this type of attack aligns more closely with actions previously attributed to Israel, falling below the threshold of direct assaults on Iran.
Following Iran’s report of downing three quadcopters over Isfahan, an explosion rocked the area near a military base housing fighter jets and air defense batteries.
Fortunately, there were no casualties or damage reported. Although Israel is believed to be behind the incident, it has not officially claimed responsibility.
Subsequently, Iran launched a barrage of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles towards Israel.
However, the majority of these were intercepted by a coalition of air defense forces from Israel, the US, the UK, France, and Jordan.
This retaliatory strike came in response to the recent destruction of Tehran’s consulate in Syria, resulting in the deaths of several members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including two generals.
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