Iraq Military Base Targeted in Bombing

Several individuals were injured in a bombing attack at the Calso military base in Babylon province, south of Baghdad, which hosts Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashed al-Shaabi), according to two security sources early Saturday. An interior ministry official reported one death and eight injuries, while a military official noted three Iraqi soldiers were injured.

Hashed al-Shaabi stated the explosion caused material damage and casualties but did not specify numbers. The group acknowledged that their facilities were impacted and had dispatched investigators to the site.

The exact cause of the explosion, whether it was a drone strike or other means, was not confirmed by security sources.

The interior ministry source detailed that the explosion damaged equipment, weapons, and vehicles. Meanwhile, a military official mentioned that a fire was ongoing, complicating the search and rescue efforts.

Following the incident, the U.S. military denied involvement, stating on social media that it had not conducted air strikes in Iraq that day, countering some reports suggesting American responsibility.

The Israeli military, when contacted, declined to comment on reports from foreign media regarding the incident.

This bombing comes at a time of increased regional tensions, notably due to ongoing conflicts involving Israel and Iran-backed forces, including the recent strikes in Iran’s Isfahan, which were attributed to Israel. Israeli officials have not commented on these strikes, and Iranian officials have downplayed their impact.