Iraq announces security measures following weapons depot blast blamed on Israel

Iraq is ordering all military camps and munitions warehouses to be moved outside its cities following a massive explosion at an ammunition depot — blamed on Israel by multiple Iraqi officials — that killed one civilian and wounded 13.

In a statement following a national security meeting, Iraq’s prime minister also orders the cancellation of all aviation approvals for flights throughout the country, including reconnaissance, drones, jets and helicopters — unless authorized by the commander of the armed forces.

Monday night’s explosion at a military base southwest of Baghdad shook the Iraqi capital and sent explosives and mortar shooting up the sky, damaging nearby homes and killing one person.

The federal police base houses a weapons depot belonging to a militia group under the umbrella of the mainly Iran-backed militias known as the Popular Mobilization Forces.

— with AP