Hashd al-Shaabi militia group confirms explosion at headquarters in central Iraq

By Anadolu staff

ISTANBUL (AA) - Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi militia group confirmed on Saturday that an explosion had occurred at its headquarters in the Kalsu military base in the northern Babil province in central Iraq.

In a statement, it said: “An investigation team immediately arrived at the scene,” adding that the blast caused material losses and injuries.

Earlier on Saturday, Baghdad Today News Agency reported that “unidentified aircraft targeted the headquarters of Hashd al-Shaabi forces with two missiles at the Kalsu base in Babil province.”

The local Shafaq News agency quoted an unnamed security source as recording the injury of three members of the Hashd al-Shaabi militia group during a missile strike targeting the Kalsu military base.

Civil defense teams were able to control the large fire caused by the bombing inside the base which also houses members of the Iraqi army and the federal police, according to the agency.

The US, meanwhile, denied involvement in the blast.

"We are aware of reports claiming that the United States conducted airstrikes in Iraq today. Those reports are not true," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.

Israel also said it was not involved in the explosion, according to CNN, citing an official.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi