US and Israel behind explosions at Iran-backed militia bases: Muhandis
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A leader of Iran-backed Shiite militias in Iraq has blamed the US and Israel for recent explosions at the militia’s bases.
The deputy chairman of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, also known as Hashd al-Shaabi) Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis said that the US and Israel were the ones who targeted a weapon depot and other PMF targets in Iraq recently in order to weaken the group.
“We have evidence that shows US has brought four Israeli drones into Iraq,” Muhandis said in a post on the PMF’s Facebook page.
“US are using the drones to target the PMF and Iraqi bases, rather than targeting Daesh,” he added, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State (ISIS).
The PMF leader said the group will fight back the next time it sees a possible enemy aircraft.
“We have the right to defend ourselves,” said Muhandis. “From now on we will target any drone flying over our bases.”
Muhandis, also warned that the US is using Iraqi airspace in order to pave the way for Israeli drones to target the PMF installation.
A weapons depot belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) at al-Balad military base in Saladin province was rocked by explosions on Tuesday night, leaving the base engulfed in flames.
The depot belongs to the Iran-backed PMF militia Kataib Hezbollah, former spokesperson for the group Karim Noori told Rudaw on Tuesday.
On August 13, a massive blast engulfed an arms depot at the al-Saqr military base belonging to a PMF militia in the Dora neighborhood of Baghdad. One person was killed and 13 were injured in the explosion.
In July, an airstrike blamed on an ISIS drone hit a PMF base in Amerli, Diyala province, injuring two PMF fighters. Two Iranian advisors working with the PMF were injured in the strike.
The US-led international coalition released a statement after Muhandis' remarks saying it is in the country at the behest of the Iraqi government solely to fight ISIS.
The mission of CJTF-OIR in Iraq is solely to enable our Iraqi Security Force partners in the mission of an enduring defeat of Daesh. We operate in Iraq at the invitation of the Government of Iraq and comply with their laws and direction.
— OIR Spokesperson (@OIRSpox) August 21, 2019
At a press conference in Ukraine on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not deny Israel was behind the recent strikes.
“Iran has no immunity anywhere,” he told reporters when asked about Israel’s involvement, including to The Times of Israel.
The Israeli leader vowed to target Iranian backed militias and interests anywhere in Middle East.
"We will act — and currently are acting — against them [Iran], wherever it is necessary," he said.
Muhandis mentioned Netanyahu's remarks in his statement. The US controls Iraq's airspace, and allows US and Israeli jets to fly over it, which the PMF determined in part from Netanyahu's comments, according to Muhandis.
"This was discovered by some American think tanks and statements by the Zionist prime minister," said Muhandis, referring to Netanyahu as the "Zionist prime minister".
Israel has also conducted multiple airstrikes against Iranian targets in neighboring Syria, claiming it wants to prevent Iranian missiles from reaching Hezbollah and deny Iranian entrenchment in Syria.
Tensions between the US and Iran have also been high since the US pulled out of its nuclear deal with the country last year. Since then, there have been several incidents in the Persian Gulf, including the downing of a US drone.
Washington and Tehran are also in a row over the Grace 1 oil tanker in the Mediterranean that the US believes in transporting oil to Syria, in violation of EU sanctions.