Baghdad

The explosions at a pro-Iran military base in Iraq on Saturday left at least three people injured, according to reports. The reason behind the blasts is not yet known. The explosions occurred at a site belonging to the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), as stated by Muhannad al-Anazi, a member of the Security Committee in Babylon Governorate, south of Baghdad. An investigation into the blasts at the Kalsu military base in the Al-Mashrou district on the highway, north of the Babylon Governorate, is currently underway.

Israeli and US officials have stated that neither country was involved in the blast. The PMU, also known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, is an Iraqi paramilitary group mostly supported by Shiite Iran. The explosion took place amid heightened tension in the Middle East as Israel fights Hamas in Gaza following a deadly assault sponsored by Iran. This month’s strikes have also revealed the long-running covert conflict between Israel and Iran.