an “explosion” on a military base leaves one dead and injured

A “preliminary investigation” was opened and investigators were dispatched to the site. Israel declined to comment.

A nighttime “explosion” on a military base in Iraq left one dead and eight injured, Iraqi authorities announced on Saturday April 20. Security officials spoke of a “bombing” against the former pro-Iran paramilitaries of Hachd al-Chaabi. The organization said a “preliminary investigation” had been opened and investigators dispatched to the site.

Questioned by AFP, a military official and an Interior Ministry official were unable to identify those responsible for this bombing which would have targeted the Calso base, in the province of Babylon. A report from the Iraqi Air Defense Command and Radar Inspection assured that“there were no drones or combat aircraft in the airspace (…) before or during the explosion.”

“We will fight back”

An Iraqi Interior Ministry official assured that the strike had targeted the Hashd al-Shaabi Armored Vehicles Directorate. “The explosion affected equipment, weapons, vehicles”he clarified. The American Military Command for the Middle East quickly announced on X that the United States “did not carry out airstrikes in Iraq.” The Israeli army also assured “do not comment on information appearing in foreign media.”

Hashd al-Shaabi is an integral part of the official Iraqi security apparatus placed under the authority of the Prime Minister. But this institution brings together several pro-Iran armed factions, some of which have also carried out dozens of attacks in Iraq and Syria against American soldiers. “We will retaliate against whoever is behind this attack”warned Abou Alaa al-Walaï, secretary-general of the Sayyed al-Chouhada Brigades, one of the factions which is part of the Hachd.

The security incident in Iraq comes at a time when diplomatic efforts continue to avoid a conflagration in the Middle East, against a backdrop of war in Gaza and rekindled tensions between Israel and Iran.