A MILITARY base in Iraq was hit by a huge explosion on Friday evening, the country’s pro-Iran security forces have claimed.
An explosion at the base in Kalso, south of Baghdad, reportedly killed one person and wounded six more.
Footage of the explosion at the base
AFPThe Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) paramilitary holding up a picture of Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini[/caption]
ReutersA general view shows the Kalso military base after it was hit by a huge explosion on late Friday[/caption]
Smoke filled the sky after the alleged airstrike
The base is used as a hub for Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), made up of dozens of armed groups with ties to Iran.
It came just hours after the Israeli strike on another military base in Iran.
Two security sources said the explosion was caused by an airstrike but did not know who was behind it.
A US official denied any involvement by the American military.
The state security forces have targeted the US before.
A statement from the PMF said: “The blast has caused material damage and injuries.”
Sources from the nearby hospital claimed one PMF fighter had died and six were injured in the blast.
The PMF, allied not only with Iran but also with its terror proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon, is openly anti-Israel.
Although it began as separate armed factions – most tied to Tehran – it was later recognised as an official security force in Iraq.
It is also involved in Iraq’s armed forces.
During the early hours of Friday morning Israel targeted an Iranian air base in the city of Isfahan.
The precision strike also hit just next door to one of Iran’s nuclear sites, sources told the Jerusalem Post.
And blasts were heard in Iraq and Syria in what appeared to be further hits on Iranian puppet terror groups across the Middle East.
Iran has a long arm of influence around the region via its proxy groups.
A huge backer of Hamas – it is widely believed to have been involved in Hamas’ massacre in Israel on October 7.
In the months following as war escalated between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip, PMF factions launched rocket and drone attacks on US forces in Iraq.