An airstrike on a military base 40 kilometers south of Baghdad, operated by the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a pro-Iran paramilitary structure, has resulted in the death of at least one person and injuries to 20 others. The attack occurred on Friday night, just one day after Israeli bombing of Iran. While militia sources attributed the bombing to the United States, both Washington and the international coalition led by the United States denied involvement in the attack. Israeli sources also denied their participation in the attack and expressed readiness to respond to whoever is behind it.
The PMF base houses Iraqi military and police, as well as fighters from the PMF, which is recognized as a formal security force by Iraqi authorities. Explosions occurred in equipment warehouses, with ongoing fires and search operations for the injured. The perpetrator of the attack remains unknown at this time.
In recent months, tensions have been high between Israel and Iran, with Israel launching numerous attacks against Iranian targets in Syria. These attacks are part of Israel’s efforts to counter Iran’s influence in the region. Meanwhile, tensions between Iraq and Iran have also been escalating due to ongoing conflicts between Kurdish groups and pro-Iranian militias in northern Iraq. These conflicts have displaced thousands of people and caused widespread destruction across the region.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) is a pro-Iranian militia group that operates within Iraq’s borders. It is part of an alliance known as Axis of Resistance that includes other militias such as Hezbollah and Hamas. IRI has targeted US troops in Iraq with suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In recent years, there have been growing concerns about IRI’s activities in Iraq, particularly its ties to Iran and its role in destabilizing security conditions within the country.
The incident involving PMF base adds another layer of complexity to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East region, where various armed groups are vying for power and influence over different territories. As such, it remains unclear what motivated this particular attack on PMF base or who was responsible for it.
However, it is clear that tensions are high between Israel and Iran, with both sides engaging in military actions against each other directly or indirectly through their respective allies such as IRGC or Hamas.
Overall, this incident highlights how complex geopolitical dynamics can lead to escalation of violence and instability across different regions around the world. It underscores how important it is for international actors to work together towards resolving these conflicts peacefully through diplomatic means rather than resorting to military action that can further destabilize already fragile situations.