Babylon, Iraq – An explosion at an Iraqi military base housing former pro-Iran paramilitaries over the weekend was determined to have been caused by stored munitions, according to officials on Tuesday. The investigative committee ruled out an air strike as the cause of the blast, which took place at the Kalsu base in Babylon province and resulted in one fatality and eight injuries.
The base, which housed barracks and arms depots belonging to the Iraqi army, the interior ministry, and the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) or Hashd al-Shaabi, saw a large explosion that created an irregularly shaped crater. The committee’s analysis of the site revealed the presence of explosives materials, including TNT, ammonium nitrate, and dibutyl phthalate, indicating a strong detonation.
Reports from Iraq’s air force command confirmed the absence of combat aircraft or drones in the province at the time of the incident, further casting doubt on the initial theory of an aerial attack. CENTCOM, the US military command in the region, and the Israeli military both denied any involvement in the explosion.
The PMF, an integral part of the Iraqi security forces operating under the prime minister’s authority, comprises various armed factions that have been linked to attacks against US soldiers in the region over recent months during the international anti-Islamic State group coalition efforts in Iraq and Syria.
The findings of the investigative committee have brought clarity to the circumstances surrounding the explosion at the military base, dispelling earlier speculations of an aerial bombing. With stored ammunition identified as the root cause of the blast, Iraqi officials are working to ensure the safety and security of similar facilities in the region to prevent future incidents.