An explosion at a military base in Iraq used by the Iran-aligned Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) has resulted in at least one person killed and 20 injured, according to security sources. The blast occurred at the Kalsu military base, located 50km south of Baghdad in the province of Babil. The PMF claimed that “American aggression” was responsible for the attack, while the Iraqi military stated that no drones or fighter jets were detected in the area at the time of the blast.
The United States military denied any involvement in the airstrikes, stating that reports of US airstrikes in Iraq were false. The Iraqi government is currently investigating the incident, with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in the US at the time. The base also houses Iraqi federal police and military forces.
Speculation has arisen that Israel may be behind the attack, although the Israeli military has not commented on the situation. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an armed forces group opposed to the US and Israel, claimed responsibility for a retaliatory strike on a target in the Israeli port city of Eilat.
The blast comes amid escalating tensions in the region, with Iran recently shooting down quadcopters over its skies and launching a drone and missile attack on Israel. The conflict has resulted in casualties and damage on both sides, with the situation remaining volatile.