Human and material losses... Explosions at a Popular Mobilization Forces base in Babylon, Iraq

  • 2024-04-20
Human and material losses... Explosions at a Popular Mobilization Forces base in Babylon, Iraq
Human and material losses... Explosions at a Popular Mobilization Forces base in Babylon, Iraq

Welat TV - Erbil

Violent explosions rocked the Kalso base in Babil Governorate, Iraq, at dawn on Saturday, April 20, 2024, which includes members of the Popular Mobilization Forces and the Iraqi army, amid conflicting reports about their nature.

Sources from the Popular Mobilization Forces and two security sources told Reuters that a huge explosion rocked the PMF’s headquarters at the Kalso military base near the town of Alexandria, approximately 50 kilometers south of Baghdad.

They explained that “the explosion came as a result of an air strike of unknown origin.” Video clips showed flames rising from the Kalso base, while local media sources reported “human and material losses.”

In a statement, the Popular Mobilization Forces Authority said that an explosion occurred at a PMF headquarters at the Kalso military base in the al-Mashrou’ district on the highway north of Babil Governorate. The explosion caused material losses and injuries, without any party being charged.

The Iraqi Security Media Cell denied that Camp Kalso in Babil Governorate had been subjected to an air strike, and said in a statement: “An explosion and fire occurred inside (Camp Kalso), which includes the headquarters of the army, police, and Popular Mobilization Forces.”

The statement said that the explosion led to the death of "a member of the Popular Mobilization Forces and the wounding of 8 others, including a member of the Iraqi army, with moderate and minor injuries."

It explained: “A specialized higher technical committee from civil defense and other relevant groups was formed to determine the causes of the explosion and fires at the site and surroundings of the accident area.”

It added, "The Air Defense Command report, through technical efforts and radar detection, confirmed that there were no drones or fighters in the airspace of Babylon before and during the explosion."

US Central Command denies launching raids in Iraq

The US Central Bank said in a statement on the Facebook platform that it is aware of reports claiming that the United States launched air strikes in Iraq: “Those reports are incorrect and the United States did not launch air strikes.”