Attack Targets Base Housing Iraqi Army and Hashd
The United States has denied involvement in an attack targeting the Kasr base in Babil province
A bombing resulted in casualties night at a military base in Iraq housing Iraqi army forces and elements of the Hashd al-Shaabi militia, which is backed by Iran and integrated into Iraqi security forces, according to two security sources. This comes a day after an Israeli attack in Isfahan, Iran, amid heightened regional tensions due to the fallout from the Gaza conflict.
A military official and an official from the Ministry of Interior did not specify who was behind the airstrike on the Kasr base in Babil province. They also did not indicate whether the strike was carried out by a drone.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) in the Middle East stated that the United States “did not conduct strikes” in Iraq on Friday. “We are aware of information alleging US airstrikes in Iraq today. This information is incorrect,” CENTCOM wrote via the X platform.
The Iraqi Security Media Cell stated on Saturday that there were no drones or fighter jets in the air when the explosion occurred at the military base last night, citing “a report from the air defense command, technical intelligence, and radar detection confirming the absence of any drones or fighter jets in the skies over Babil before and during the explosion.”
Initially, an official from the Ministry of Interior said the incident resulted in “one dead and eight wounded.” However, the Hashd al-Shaabi, an alliance of Iranian-backed militias, reported in a statement that there were “injuries” without specifying the number, also mentioning “material damage” from the “explosion.”
The Hashd stated in its statement that an explosion occurred at a headquarters of the Hashd al-Shaabi at the Kasr military base in the Mashruh district on the northern highway of Babil province. It added that an investigation team immediately arrived at the scene, and the explosion caused material losses and injuries, promising to provide more details upon the “completion of the initial investigation.” This development in Iraq comes in an explosive regional context fueled by the ongoing conflict in Gaza, as diplomatic efforts continue to avert escalation.
The acting Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Mohsen al-Mandalawi, warned on Saturday of serious tension affecting the region’s security and stability due to the “Zionist aggression” on Gaza.
During the opening of the 12th edition of the Security, Defense, and Military Industries Exhibition, with the participation of more than 17 Arab and foreign countries and dozens of Iraqi companies, he said, “The holding of the new session of the exhibition comes in a complex military and political atmosphere in the region after Iraq’s victory over ISIS and the Zionist aggression on Gaza.”
He warned that “ISIS still poses a threat to Iraq and we must not be lenient with them,” adding that “the region is witnessing a dangerous escalation affecting its security and stability, and Iraq must be strong against any threat, in addition to supporting the country’s military industry.”
On Friday morning, explosions were heard near a military base in Isfahan region, central Iran, where authorities downplayed their impact without directly accusing Israel, and no Israeli statement was made on the attack. This comes less than a week after an unprecedented and direct Iranian attack on Israel. In Iraq, at the Kasr base, a military official speaking on condition of anonymity said three people were injured in the ranks of the Iraqi army following the Friday night bombing, stating that “some ammunition depots are currently exploding due to the bombing,” adding that “the fire continues to burn in some places, and the search is ongoing for other casualties.”
The Ministry of Interior official confirmed that the explosion targeted the “headquarters of the armored forces of the Hashd al-Shaabi,” adding that the explosion affected “weapons and heavy equipment and armored vehicles.”
The Hashd al-Shaabi is an integral part of the official Iraqi security apparatus under the authority of the Prime Minister. However, the Hashd al-Shaabi organization includes several pro-Iranian armed factions that have carried out attacks in Iraq and Syria against US soldiers deployed as part of the international coalition against jihadists.
This explosion, which occurred in Iraq on Friday night and was not immediately claimed, comes in an explosive regional context fueled by the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and the Islamist Hamas movement.
The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “deep concern” on Friday evening about the attack on Isfahan, warning of “the risks of military escalation that threaten the security and stability of the region.” It added that “this escalation should not divert attention from what is happening in the Gaza Strip, with its destruction and loss of innocent lives.”
Iraqi interim Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani is still in the United States, where he met with President Joe Biden earlier this week.
