Al-Arabiya and al-Mayadeen both report that large explosions have been seen at Al-Saqr Camp south of Baghdad, which is a base allegedly belonging to both Popular Mobilization Force units and Iraqi state security forces.
The Popular Mobilization Forces form an umbrella group of Iraqi militias, created after a 2014 fatwa by Iraqi Shiite cleric Ali al-Sistani, which called on Iraqis to fight the Islamic State. Some of the militias are backed by Iran, some by the Iraqi government, and others are loyal to Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
Iraqi security services claim the explosions are the result of ammunition overheating in the sweltering summer heat, according to Baghdad-based Nas News.
The explosions, however, come at a time of heightened tensions and threats between Iran and the United States after a US fighter jet allegedly narrowly passed an Iranian passenger plane in Syria.
No casualties have been reported so far.
— Aaron Boxerman
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
— Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist
Support our work
Support our work
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
