Explosion at Popular Mobilization Forces base in Baghdad kills one, injures four

One member of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces was killed and four others were injured in an explosion on Saturday inside one of the group’s facilities in Baghdad, Reuters reported, citing a security source and a medical official. The PMF had earlier announced that an explosion had occurred at one of its sites due to damaged munitions, initially stating there were no casualties.

In a previous statement, the Popular Mobilization Forces said, "A cache of damaged ammunition exploded inside a PMF base east of the canal in Baghdad, with no casualties reported so far."

The incident comes amid a series of fires and explosions at military bases and weapons depots across Iraq, with causes often left undisclosed. In the early weeks of the Middle East conflict, which has had repercussions in Iraq, PMF sites were hit by deadly strikes attributed to the United States.

The Popular Mobilization Forces were formed in 2014 from Iraqi armed groups to fight Daesh, later becoming part of Iraq’s official military structure. The PMF also includes brigades linked to Iran-allied factions that operate independently and have claimed attacks on US interests in Iraq and the region, particularly during the current Middle East conflict.

The United States has previously targeted bases belonging to these factions during the recent conflict and in previous years.