BAGHDAD (AFP) – One person was killed and eight wounded in an overnight explosion at an Iraqi military base housing a coalition of armed groups, officials said yesterday.
The explosion hit the Kalsu military base in Babylon province south of Baghdad, where Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces, or Hashed al-Shaabi, is stationed.
The Iraqi security forces media unit said “an explosion and a fire” hit the Kalsu base in the early hours yesterday, leaving one person dead and eight wounded.
Air defence command reported “no drones or combat aircraft in the airspace of Babylon province before or during the explosion”, it added in a statement.
An Interior Ministry official had initially reported an “aerial bombing” on the site.
In a statement, Hashed al-Shaabi said an “explosion” had inflicted “material losses” and casualties, without giving a number.
The group confirmed its premises on the military base had been hit and that investigators had been sent to the site.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
Responding to questions from AFP, the security sources did not say who may have been behind the attack.
“The explosion hit equipment, weapons and vehicles,” said the Interior Ministry source.
Shortly after the explosion, the US military said its forces were not behind a reported strike in Iraq.
