Middle East On Brink Of Full-Scale Conflict After Explosion in Iraq Military Base Kills 1, Injures 6

New Delhi: An explosion rocked a military base in Iraq, causing injuries of some fighters and material damage, late on Friday.

The blast took place at the Kalsu facility in the city of Babylon. The main target of the blast was the pro-Iranian group Popular Mobilisation Forces, according to initial reports. As per reports, citing sources at the nearby hospital in Hilla, a PMF fighter was killed whereas six others were wounded. 

The exact cause of the blast is still unconfirmed, however, news outlet Reuters, citing security sources, reported that an air strike from an unknown source was to blame for the explosion. The command post at Kalso military base is located 50 km (30 miles) south of Baghdad.

Meanwhile, a US official confirmed that the American military has no role in it attack.

The military base is used by Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella group of dozens of armed factions, and is home to its chief of staff. 

Soon after the blast, an investigating team arrived at the scene. 

This comes a day after Israel carried out a strike on Iran as a response to Iran’s weekend barrage on the former on April 13. Earlier on April 1, Israel had attacked Iran's consulate in Syria’s Damascus, killing at least seven people including two top Iranian Generals. In response, Iran launched an unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel earlier on April 13.

Almost a week after the attack, Israel on April 19 launched responded launched a retaliatory strike on Iran. However, Iran claimed that the attack did not result in any major damage.