In Iraq, at least one person has been killed and twenty others have been injured in a large explosion. The blast happened south of the capital Baghdad, in the Babil province. A base used by the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces was hit.

Babylon Governorate

A significant explosion occurred south of Baghdad, in the Babil province of Iraq, impacting a military base used by the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces. The incident resulted in at least one fatality and twenty injuries among the paramilitary group's members. An ongoing investigation aims to uncover the cause of the explosion, amidst varied theories from soldiers on the base.

The U.S. Central Command has rebuffed claims suggesting the explosion was the result of an American attack. Local security officials in Iraq are holding fast to the theory that the event was accidental, though conclusive findings have yet to be announced. The aftermath of the blast has stirred various reactions, including a strong condemnation from Hamas, which accused the Biden administration of escalating tensions and infringing on Iraq's sovereignty.

The Popular Mobilization Forces, which consist of various paramilitary groups including Iran-linked factions, have been integrated into Iraq's formal military command. These groups have explicitly stated their intent to target US and Israeli interests should conflicts in the region, such as the war in Gaza or attacks on Iran, escalate. This creates a complex challenge for Iraqi leaders, who must navigate their relationships with both Western allies and influential Iranian-backed groups.

There is a broad concern in Iraq that the nation's territory may be used for proxy conflicts by Iran, the United States, and Israel, exacerbating regional tensions. The explosion at the Babil military base highlights the fragile balance Iraq must maintain amidst potential external influence and internal efforts to protect its sovereignty and security.



Giant explosion hits military base near Baghdad

This is the damage at the Khalsu military base between Baghdad and Babel. The explosion killed at least one fighter of the paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces and injured others. The U.S. Central Command denied reports that it was an American attack. An investigation is underway, but soldiers at the base have their theories. After the American forces refuted that they carried out the bombing, here is the aftermath. This is what resulted from the huge explosion. This is the crater created by the blast. A Hamas statement condemned the attack, calling it a violation of Iraq's sovereignty. Hamas says it holds the Biden administration responsible for the escalation. But Iraqi security officials are adamant that it was an accident. Until now, I'm sure it's too much early to talk about what's going on. But we're talking about right now with the teams. The teams right now, they work 24 hours from yesterday night until now. I think maybe after a little time, they can tell us and we can tell the result from everyone. I'm sure and we trust about our forces. We can protect our country, our border and our people and our sensitive target. Since the war against ISIL, many of Iraq's paramilitaries have been formalized into a central chain of command. The umbrella group of fighters called the Popular Mobilization Forces works under the prime minister's office. But Iran-linked groups such as the Islamic Resistance still have a major presence. They maintain they'll attack US and Israeli interests if the war in Gaza or attacks on Iran escalate. We do not want to embarrass the government with this issue. This is why we see ours as a supportive role. The Iraqi Islamic Resistance have carried out more than 400 attacks and we continue to target Israel via drones. If the occupation expands the war to Rafah, the Islamic Resistance will escalate its operations. Iraq is among the few countries where Iran can publicly display its political and military influence. And that role in Iraqi politics and security is a major challenge for leaders who have to balance their close partnerships with Western allies, including the United States. The latest incident comes amid heightened tension in the region. Iraqis fear that Iran, the United States and Israel could use its soil once again for their proxy warfare. And the attack, such as the one in Babel, carries the risk of igniting far-reaching incendiary consequences that might be beyond Iraqi control.

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