One person was killed, and eight others were injured in an explosion that rocked the Kalsu military base in Babylon province, south of Baghdad, on Saturday. The explosion targeted the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashed al-Shaabi), a coalition of pro-Iranian armed groups stationed at the base.
The Iraqi security forces media unit reported an “explosion and a fire” early Saturday morning, resulting in one fatality and eight injuries. Air defense command confirmed that there were no drones or combat aircraft in the airspace before or during the event.
Initially, an interior ministry official had reported an “aerial bombing,” but Hashed al-Shaabi later clarified that it was an “explosion” that caused “material losses” and casualties. The group did not provide specific numbers.
No party has claimed responsibility for the attack. Security sources declined to speculate on who might be behind it.
According to an interior ministry source, the explosion damaged equipment, weapons, and vehicles. The US military promptly denied involvement, stating that it had not conducted air strikes in Iraq that day.
The Israeli army also declined to comment on the incident.
Hashed al-Shaabi commander Abu Alaa al-Walai vowed retaliation against those responsible, saying they would “pay the price.”
The explosion occurred amidst heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, following Tehran’s unprecedented attack on Israel and subsequent Israeli drone strikes on Iran.
Iraq’s foreign ministry expressed concern over the escalation, warning of potential regional instability.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani was in Washington at the time of the incident, where he met with US President Joe Biden. CONTINUE READING
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