{"id":55125,"date":"2019-08-21T00:23:33","date_gmt":"2019-08-21T00:23:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/08\/21\/new-explosion-rocks-arms-depot-north-of-iraqi-capital\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T08:52:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:52:20","slug":"new-explosion-rocks-arms-depot-north-of-iraqi-capital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/08\/21\/new-explosion-rocks-arms-depot-north-of-iraqi-capital\/","title":{"rendered":"New explosion rocks arms depot north of Iraqi capital"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BAGHDAD \u2014 A large explosion hit an arms depot belonging to an Iranian-backed militia faction north of Baghdad on Tuesday, the latest in a series of mysterious blasts at military bases and munitions depots around the country in the past few weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The explosions have occurred in bases and warehouses belonging to militia groups under the umbrella of the mainly Iran-backed militias known as the Popular Mobilization Forces. The state-sanctioned PMF militias have fought alongside Iraq\u2019s regular armed forces against the Islamic State group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week, a massive explosion at a munitions depot<\/a> southwest of Baghdad killed one civilian and wounded 13 others. The exact cause for the blast, which terrified residents and damaged nearby homes, is still unknown although some officials blamed it on faulty storage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last month, an explosion took place at a base in Amirli, in Iraq\u2019s northern Salaheddin province, killing two Iranians and causing a huge fire. That attack was blamed on an unmanned drone that dropped explosives, with some Shiite militias blaming it on the Islamic State group. <\/p>\n\n\n\t