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Iraq
Iraqi government forces guard the Jurf al-Sakher area on May 24, 2015. File photo: Haidar Hamdani/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Explosions reported north of Babylon early on Tuesday morning were Islamic State (ISIS) attacks on several electric pylons in the area and not airstrikes, Iraq’s Security Media Cell has said.
“A number of electric pylons in the Bahbahani region, in northern Babylon province were attacked and sabotaged by ISIS gangs. Some interpreted these attacks as airstrikes,” the cell tweeted on Tuesday.
ISIS propaganda channels have not confirmed the attacks.
Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi in Arabic) propaganda channels on Telegram reported at least four explosions by US airstrikes on Iraqi army bases in Jurf Sakhar (also known as Jurf al-Naser), south of Baghdad early on Tuesday morning.
The PMF, an umbrella network of paramilitaries, some of which are backed by Iran, often attack the US embassy in Baghdad, as well as US-contracted convoys and Iraqi bases hosting US troops.
In an exclusive interview with al-Hadath on Monday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein Fouad Hussein said that Baghdad has asked Iran to use their influence to stop attacks on Baghdad's Green Zone, where the embassy is located.
Initial reports by the propaganda channels reported at least six members of the Iraqi security forces killed in the attacks. The deaths have not been reported by any other group.
The US Central Command denied US involvement in the attacks.
"Explosions reported earlier today about 40 miles outside of Baghdad, Iraq, in the town of Jurf Sakhar were not the result of US military action," the tweet quoted CAPT Bill Urban, US Central Command spokesman as saying.
Yehia Rasool, spokesperson for Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi as the Iraqi commander-in-chief, denied any attack on Iraqi security forces in the area.
The US Department of Defense announced on Friday that it has further reduced the amount of US troops in Iraq to 2,500.
Despite being territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017, ISIS continues to conduct attacks throughout the country, particularly in the disputed territories and around Baghdad.
In 2020, several Iraqi army commanders and members of the security forces were killed by the terror group, including in attacks around Baghdad.
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