Explosion at PMF weapons depot south of Baghdad

BAGHDAD – An explosion occurred at an ammunition depot of Brigade 42 of the Popular Mobilization Forces in the Yusufiya area south of Baghdad at 7:00 pm today. The cause of the explosion is unknown, though social media accounts shared a video clip purporting to show a drone in the area shortly before the blast. The facility reportedly belongs to the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq group and is part of the Salah al-Din Operations Command.

The PMF said in a statement obtained by 964media that it had formed a “specialized technical committee” to investigate the explosion. Rescue and medical teams, along with firefighter trucks, were dispatched to the site. Initial reports indicate no human casualties.

This incident follows a July 16 attack on U.S. forces at Ain Al-Assad Airbase in Anbar governorate, which the Pentagon attributed to Iran-backed armed factions within the PMF. Recently, Akram al-Ka’abi, leader of the Harakat Hezbollah Al-Nujaba group of the PMF, released a video showing him assembling an armed drone to target Israel.