Friday, April 19, 2024

Huge Blast Rocks Iraq Base Used By Iran-Linked Militias: U.S., Israel Deny Any Connection To Airstrikes


Huge Blast Rocks Iraq Base Used By Iran-Linked Militias

TYLER DURDEN



Reuters is reporting a "massive" blast at an Iraqi base used by Iran-linked militias south of Baghdad in the overnight hours (local). 

"A huge blast rocked a military base used by Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) to the south of Baghdad late on Friday," army sources said to Reuters.

Few other details have been given, but images are widely circulating online showing what indeed appears to be a very large-scale strike.

A number of regional correspondents have been quick to identify it as an American military airstrike; however, given the events of the night prior (the 'limited' attack on Iran), others are speculating it was the Israelis behind it.


Both the Israelis and Americans have struck Iran-linked PMF bases before, mostly in Eastern Syria - but a strike on such a scale inside Iraq by Israel remains very rare or even unprecedented.

Of course, since this again takes place when he market is closed the only way to trade it is via bitcoin, where the algos have decided to price in the end of the world for the third time in 5 days.

We are aware of reports claiming that the United States conducted airstrikes in Iraq today. Those reports are not true. The United States has not conducted air strikes in Iraq today.



The US military says its forces were not behind a reported strike on an Iraqi military base.

“The United States has not conducted air strikes in Iraq today,” US Central Command says on X, adding that reports American forces had carried out a strike are “not true.”

IRAQ: Massive explosion in Kalsu military camp in Babil, strikes targeted pro-Iran PMF. At least one killed, Israel suspected



Israel has no connection to blasts in Iraq this evening, an Israeli official tells CNN, after an Iraqi coalition of pro-Iran militias said a military base it uses was targeted in an airstrike.


An airstrike early Saturday hit a base used by the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias in Iraq, the group says in a statement.

It’s not clear who was responsible for the purported attack, which came a day after a suspected Israeli strike in Iran, but militia officials blame US forces.

A US official says there were no US airstrikes in Iraq. The official speaks on the condition of anonymity to provide details that are not public.

In recent months, some PMF member groups staged attacks on US forces based in Iraq and Syria, which they said was in retaliation for Washington’s support of Israel in its war with the Hamas terror group in Gaza.






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