Security sources in Iraq have reported that an explosion destroyed a military base that was home to a pro-Iranian militia, leaving one person dead and eight injured.
The Iraqi military stated that there had been no fighter jets or drones in the area before or after the explosion.
However, the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), the militia group engaged, claimed responsibility for an assault.
It comes at a time when Israel and Iran have been experiencing additional tensions.
Under the PMF’s sponsorship, a number of pro-Iranian militias participate in the bilateral network that Tehran has long used to further its goals throughout the Middle East.
These militias have previously launched several attacks on US interests and troops in Iraq in an effort to drive out the last of the US forces. The US has responded to the militias on a regular basis.
Nonetheless, the Pentagon has moved quickly to refute any role in this tragedy.
It occurs at a time when tensions raised by the Gaza War have caused the long-running conflict between Israel and Iran to enter a new, harsher phase.
Both countries appear to have attacked each other’s territory directly.
Early on Friday morning, there was what seemed to be an Israeli strike close to the Iranian city of Isfahan.
The strike appeared to be a retaliation to a significant drone and missile assault on Israel six days prior, carried out by Iran.
The Iranian action was a reprisal for what was reportedly an Israeli strike on senior Iranian military officers in the Syrian capital of Damascus.
The Iranian foreign minister has issued a warning, stating that Iran will respond immediately and to the “maximum” if Israel makes serious attacks on its interests, even though the conflict still appears to be rather contained for the time being.
Around 50 kilometres south of Baghdad, at the Kalso military facility, there was an explosion early on Saturday morning, according to the military.
In the blast, one PMF member was killed and eight others were injured.
The PMF claimed in a statement that Abdul Aziz al-Mohammedawi, its chief of staff, had visited the base to assess the initial results of the investigation.
Iraqi Military statements
The Iraqi military also declared that it was looking into what caused the base fire and explosion.
“The air defence command report confirmed, through technical efforts and radar detection, that there was no drone or fighter jets in the air space of Babil before and during the explosion,” said a statement.
Central Command of the US military refuted rumours that it had conducted airstrikes in Iraq in a post-X
