Iraq 'Has Proof' Zionist Drones Hit Bases With U.S. Consent
BAGHDAD (Dispatches) – Explosions that rocked two Iraqi military bases held by the country's popular Hash al-Shaabi forces were the result of the Zionist regime’s unmanned aircraft strikes, a member of the Security and Defense Committee in the Iraqi parliament, Karim Alaiwi, told Lebanese broadcaster al-Mayadeen.
"We have proof that Israeli air forces hit several targets in Iraq, including the al-Saqr and Amerli bases. Israel claims that the Popular Mobilization Forces have connections to Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah," the lawmaker claimed.
According to Alaiwi, the occupying regime is vying to weaken the popular forces through such airstrikes and even kill their members. He noted that Iraqi airspace is controlled by the U.S. Air Force, indicating that the regime could not have struck the bases without Washington knowing it.
However, the Iraqi planes failed to detect drones in the sky over the bases, the official noted.
Previously, al-Mayadeen reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, that three unmanned aerial vehicles were spotted just before the explosion at the al-Saqr base.
An unnamed security source said thick plumes of black smoke are seen billowing from the site, adding that the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unknown.
However, Fadhil Abu Ragheef, a security expert close to Iraqi intelligence services, said the arms depot of Hashd al-Sha’abi forces had been specifically targeted.
Hashd al-Sha’abi commanders also confirmed that the intended target of the blasts was the group’s position near Balad base.
Mohammad al-Baldawi, a representative of al-Bina party at the Iraqi parliament, stated that the incident is in line with repeated attacks against Hashd al-Sha’abi positions.
On August 13, Abu Ragheef had told Russia's RT Arabic television news network that there is information that the Israeli military was planning to launch airstrikes against the arms depots of Hashd al-Sha’abi forces.
"Available information suggests that Israel is preparing to bomb the weapons caches of Hashd al-Sha’abi forces, and not the command centers or fortifications of the fighters. This is quite likely to happen,” he said.
He added that a powerful explosion, which rocked a military base in southern Baghdad on August 12, could be part of the Zionist regime’s scenario. Sayf al-Badr, spokesman of the Iraqi Health Ministry, said in a statement that at least one person was killed and 29 others were wounded in the blast.
In January, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hinted during a visit to Iraq that the Israeli regime could launch attacks against Hashd al-Sha’abi forces, who played a key role in the Iraqi army’s counter-terrorism battles against the Daesh terror group and helped the government to rid the country of the Takfiri outfit in late 2017.
This black smoke is seen rising in the sky following several blasts at a position of Iraqi pro-government of pro-government Popular Mobilization Units, better known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha'abi, near Balad air base north of Baghdad, Iraq, on August 20, 2019.
"We have proof that Israeli air forces hit several targets in Iraq, including the al-Saqr and Amerli bases. Israel claims that the Popular Mobilization Forces have connections to Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah," the lawmaker claimed.
According to Alaiwi, the occupying regime is vying to weaken the popular forces through such airstrikes and even kill their members. He noted that Iraqi airspace is controlled by the U.S. Air Force, indicating that the regime could not have struck the bases without Washington knowing it.
However, the Iraqi planes failed to detect drones in the sky over the bases, the official noted.
Previously, al-Mayadeen reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, that three unmanned aerial vehicles were spotted just before the explosion at the al-Saqr base.
An unnamed security source said thick plumes of black smoke are seen billowing from the site, adding that the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unknown.
However, Fadhil Abu Ragheef, a security expert close to Iraqi intelligence services, said the arms depot of Hashd al-Sha’abi forces had been specifically targeted.
Hashd al-Sha’abi commanders also confirmed that the intended target of the blasts was the group’s position near Balad base.
Mohammad al-Baldawi, a representative of al-Bina party at the Iraqi parliament, stated that the incident is in line with repeated attacks against Hashd al-Sha’abi positions.
On August 13, Abu Ragheef had told Russia's RT Arabic television news network that there is information that the Israeli military was planning to launch airstrikes against the arms depots of Hashd al-Sha’abi forces.
"Available information suggests that Israel is preparing to bomb the weapons caches of Hashd al-Sha’abi forces, and not the command centers or fortifications of the fighters. This is quite likely to happen,” he said.
He added that a powerful explosion, which rocked a military base in southern Baghdad on August 12, could be part of the Zionist regime’s scenario. Sayf al-Badr, spokesman of the Iraqi Health Ministry, said in a statement that at least one person was killed and 29 others were wounded in the blast.
In January, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hinted during a visit to Iraq that the Israeli regime could launch attacks against Hashd al-Sha’abi forces, who played a key role in the Iraqi army’s counter-terrorism battles against the Daesh terror group and helped the government to rid the country of the Takfiri outfit in late 2017.
This black smoke is seen rising in the sky following several blasts at a position of Iraqi pro-government of pro-government Popular Mobilization Units, better known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha'abi, near Balad air base north of Baghdad, Iraq, on August 20, 2019.