Iraqi Islamic Resistance factions announced they targeted several early on Saturday vital targets in Eilat, Israel, with drones. This was in response to an aerial attack that targeted an ammunition depot at Kalsu Base in southern Baghdad earlier that day, according to a breaking news report by Cairo News.
Both the United States and Israel denied involvement in the airstrike that targeted the ammunition storage at the Popular Mobilization Forces’ Kalsu Base in Babil province, south of Baghdad. Officials from the US Central Command told CNN that America was not involved in the strike, which resulted in one death, six injuries, and some material damages.
An Israeli Defense Ministry official told CNN that Israel had not conducted any airstrikes on the base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces.
Mahnd Al-Anzi, a member of the Security Committee for Babil Province, confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the causes of the five explosions targeting the weapons depot at Kalsu Base. He added that the preliminary results of the investigation would be published as soon as it is completed.
The Popular Mobilization Forces claimed that the attack on Kalsu Base was carried out by US forces stationed at Tower 22 Base in northeastern Jordan, according to CNN.
Since the onset of the war in Gaza on October 7, 2024, there have been significant escalations in the region, including actions taken by Iraqi factions. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group for Iranian-backed militias, has been actively involved in launching attacks against Israeli targets, including Eilat. These attacks are part of a broader regional response to the conflict in Gaza and are indicative of the coordinated efforts by Iranian-backed groups across the Middle East.
The group claimed responsibility for drone attacks targeting Eilat on several occasions, with significant incidents reported on November 3 and December 21, 2023. These drone attacks were described as retaliatory actions in response to casualties in Gaza, aiming to target vital installations in Eilat as a form of retribution
