Iraqi Officials Attribute Recent Militia Warehouse Strikes to Israel

Working families in Baghdad and surrounding areas are facing renewed uncertainty as Iraqi officials identify Israel as the likely source of recent explosions at two militia storage sites. These locations held shoulder-fired air defense systems of Chinese origin that were reportedly supplied by Tehran. The strikes occurred last week, according to sources speaking to the London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat on Saturday. The identification of the weapon type and its origin adds a new layer of complexity to the regional security landscape for those living near these facilities.

The report did not specify the exact model of the air defense system involved. It also noted that the evidence supporting the attribution to Israel was not fully confirmed. One source stated that the armed group responsible for selecting the storage location believed it was extremely difficult to detect or reach. The suspected attack happened shortly after the shipments arrived at both sites, suggesting a precise timing by the attacker. The lack of specific system details leaves some questions open regarding the exact capabilities of the weapons destroyed.

Asharq Al-Awsat also highlighted a separate explosion on October 17 at a base of the Popular Mobilization Forces, or PMF. This umbrella organization includes many Iranian-backed militias and serves as a paramilitary force for the Iraqi government. The PMF initially described the blast as an accident, and the Iraqi government pledged to conduct an investigation. The newspaper reported that the explosion hit a stockpile of obsolete ammunition at a headquarters in Baghdad's East Canal area, injuring five individuals. An anonymous Iraqi official indicated that authorities were still examining the circumstances, noting that more than a week had passed without a public update.

Other sources connected the mid-October blast to an earlier incident on October 1. During that event, warehouses linked to Iran-backed groups in and around Baghdad were affected. These stores reportedly held drones intended for suicide attacks and reconnaissance missions. A security official told the newspaper that while Iraqi authorities had not determined the exact nature of the strikes, they had gathered sufficient evidence to believe Israel was responsible. This pattern of incidents suggests a sustained campaign rather than isolated events.

This is not the first instance of Iraqi officials pointing to Israel. Iranian-backed militias previously blamed Israel for strikes in 2019 and for an attack in Albukamal, Syria, near the Iraqi border. In May, The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel established a secret airstrip in Iraq during its campaign against Iran. Asharq Al-Awsat also cited conflicting and unconfirmed accounts of Israeli fighter jets flying through Iraqi airspace near the Iranian border, supported by midair refueling aircraft. These reports have fueled speculation about the methods used to conduct operations within Iraqi territory.

The context of these strikes is significant given that Iran has armed Iraqi militias for years. These groups have possessed missiles and drones capable of threatening Israel. Following the Hamas war that began in October 2023, these militias carried out numerous attacks on Israel. Since the US and Israel began airstrikes in February, Iran has sought to position Iraq as a frontline. The country has endured more than 1,000 strikes on the Kurdistan Region using drones and missiles. Additionally, Iran and allied militias have mounted 600 attacks across Iraq, with some targeting US diplomatic sites. The US withdrew its forces from Iraq on September 30, a deadline agreed upon with Baghdad, and has advised Americans against traveling to Baghdad.

The newspaper linked earlier reports of China supplying weapons to Iran with the movement of those systems to Iraq, though it described this connection as unconfirmed. China's Foreign Ministry denied those reports on July 28. In a related development, an Iran-backed militia attacked Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline with a drone, reportedly launched from Iraq's Maysan province near the Iranian border. That crossing has since been closed due to US pressure and Iraqi concerns about trafficking. These events highlight the interconnected nature of regional security issues.

Asharq Al-Awsat concluded that the strikes signal the start of a new round of conflict, even though the original incidents date to early and mid-October. A source within the Shi'ite Coordination Framework said that ruling party leaders had spent weeks predicting that a renewed war between Washington and Tehran would begin with the destruction of Iraqi factions' capabilities. Most major groups in the PMF, excluding the Badr Organization, have been sanctioned by the US as terrorist organizations. Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of militias with a history of attacking Israel and the US, published a statement claiming that Iraqi airspace was being violated.