Iraqi military base housing Shiite forces bombed overnight, leaving one person dead and eight injured; the US claims it didn’t launch any strikes

Two security sources said early on Saturday that a “bombing” that occurred overnight on an Iraqi military facility that is home to a coalition of armed organizations that support Iran left many people injured.

According to a military official and a source in the interior ministry, the explosion occurred near the Calso military camp in Babylon province, south of Baghdad, which is home to Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, also known as Hashed al-Shaabi.

While the military source indicated that three Iraqi military soldiers had been wounded in a strike, the ministry of interior official said that one civilian had been killed and eight others injured by the “aerial bombing.”

Hashed al-Shaabi said in a statement that there had been “material losses” and casualties due to a “explosion,” but he did not say how many people were hurt.

The organization verified that investigators had been sent to the scene after its buildings on the military post were targeted.

In response to inquiries from AFP, the security sources declined to identify the perpetrator or confirm whether a drone attack had taken place.

According to the ministry source, “vehicles, weapons, and equipment were hit by the explosion.”

No one took instant credit for anything.

The US military said shortly after the explosion that it was not responsible for a purported attack in Iraq.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on social media platform X that “the United States has not conducted airstrikes in Iraq today” and that “reports that American forces had carried out a strike were not true.”

Due to the sensitive nature of the matter, the Iraqi military officer talked under anonymity and said that the explosion that happened overnight took place in “warehouses storing equipment.”

The source said, “A fire is still raging and the search for the injured is continuing.”

The Israeli army said that it “does not comment on information published in foreign media” when contacted by AFP.

The coalition of mostly Shiite armed organizations known as Hashed al-Shaabi was incorporated into Iraq’s formal security structure in order to combat the Islamic State group.

The blast at the Iraqi military camp coincides with escalating tensions in the area over the conflict between Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist group supported by Iran.

Attacks on Friday that were attributed to Israel struck a military installation close to the Iranian capital of Isfahan.

There had been retaliatory Israeli attacks, a senior US Congressional source told AFP, but he would not elaborate since they were classified.

Iranian and Israeli authorities have downplayed the importance of Friday’s strike and declined to respond publicly.