An explosion at the Kalsu military base, located south of Baghdad, resulted in the death of one member of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) and left eight others injured. The PMU, a predominantly Shiite Iranian-backed paramilitary force in Iraq, was responsible for the site where the explosion occurred, according to local authorities.
The cause of the blast remains unknown, with both Israeli and US officials denying involvement. The incident took place following a recent military strike on Iran attributed to Israel.
The explosion, which occurred at 1 a.m. local time, affected a command post at the Kalsu base, which serves as a key headquarters for the Iraqi army and police. Among the injured individuals was a member of the army.
The Iraqi army confirmed that no drones or aircraft were present in the airspace of Babylon Governorate at the time of the explosion. A committee will be established to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
The PMU stated that the blast took place in the Al-Mashrou district on the highway north of Babylon Governorate. Investigators are currently on-site assessing the damage and conducting preliminary investigations.
Unlike other Iran-backed groups in the region, the PMU is closely tied to the local government and has strong connections to Iran-aligned Shiite blocs that have long held political influence in Iraq.
The explosion comes amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East, with ongoing conflicts between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, as well as escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran. Following the blast in Iraq, both Israeli and US officials denied any involvement in the incident.
In 2016, the Iraqi parliament officially recognized the PMU as a government entity operating alongside the Iraqi military. The PMU serves as an umbrella organization encompassing various forces, including the influential Kataib Hezbollah group.
