PMF claims storage depot in Najaf attacked by drone
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A militia within Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi) said their ammunition depot in the holy city of Najaf was attacked by a drone Monday afternoon. The Iraqi military, however, said the explosion on the base was a result of improperly stored munitions and not a drone strike.
“Hostile drones targeted one of the bases of the Division in Najaf province,” Imam Ali Division said in a statement, reported by Iraqi state media.
“The drone bombed one of the ammunition depots in al-Dilok Camp at 3:30pm on Monday before re-targeting the same camp at 5:30pm,” it said.
The Security Media Cell said the military and the PMF were jointly investigating the cause of the explosion, but that no drones were flying over the base.
“According to information from technical experts at the site, the Najaf explosion was caused by poor storage and air defenses. No drone flights were recorded,” the cell stated.
Imam Ali Division had said drones had that morning carried out reconnaissance of their base, located about 20 kilometres northwest of Najaf.
The US-led coalition against the Islamic State group (ISIS) said they had not conducted strikes in Iraq. The coalition “has not conducted air strikes in Syria or Iraq today or yesterday,” tweeted spokesperson Col. Wayne Marotto, without mentioning the Najaf incident.
The incident comes as Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi is in Washington to discuss withdrawal of American combat troops from Iraq, a demand of Iranian-backed militias affiliated with the PMF who are blamed for frequent attacks on US interests in the country.
Updated at 8:27 pm
“Hostile drones targeted one of the bases of the Division in Najaf province,” Imam Ali Division said in a statement, reported by Iraqi state media.
“The drone bombed one of the ammunition depots in al-Dilok Camp at 3:30pm on Monday before re-targeting the same camp at 5:30pm,” it said.
The Security Media Cell said the military and the PMF were jointly investigating the cause of the explosion, but that no drones were flying over the base.
“According to information from technical experts at the site, the Najaf explosion was caused by poor storage and air defenses. No drone flights were recorded,” the cell stated.
Imam Ali Division had said drones had that morning carried out reconnaissance of their base, located about 20 kilometres northwest of Najaf.
The US-led coalition against the Islamic State group (ISIS) said they had not conducted strikes in Iraq. The coalition “has not conducted air strikes in Syria or Iraq today or yesterday,” tweeted spokesperson Col. Wayne Marotto, without mentioning the Najaf incident.
The incident comes as Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi is in Washington to discuss withdrawal of American combat troops from Iraq, a demand of Iranian-backed militias affiliated with the PMF who are blamed for frequent attacks on US interests in the country.
Updated at 8:27 pm