Iraq blames Israel for militia strikes

Recent explosions at military storage sites in Iraq have raised concerns for residents and security officials about the stability of the region. Iraqi authorities now believe that Israel was behind attacks on two locations where militias linked to Iran kept shoulder-fired air defense systems. These weapons, which are of Chinese origin, were reportedly supplied directly by Tehran. The strikes occurred last week, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the countries.

The details of the incident come from sources cited by the London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat. While the report did not specify the exact model of the air defense system, it noted that the armed group responsible for storing the weapons considered the sites difficult to detect. The suspected attack happened shortly after the shipments arrived. The newspaper acknowledged that some parts of the story remain unconfirmed and that no definitive evidence was presented to support the claims.

A related incident occurred on October 17 at a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces. This paramilitary body includes many Iranian-backed militias. The PMF initially described the blast as an accident, and the Iraqi government promised an investigation. The explosion hit a stockpile of old ammunition in Baghdad's East Canal area, injuring five people. An anonymous official stated that authorities were still investigating, even though more than a week had passed without updates.

This mid-October event followed another incident on October 1 involving warehouses in and around Baghdad. Those sites reportedly held drones intended for suicide attacks and reconnaissance missions. A security official said that while the nature of the strikes had not been fully determined, there was enough evidence to suspect Israel. This is not the first time Iraq has pointed to Israel for similar strikes, including events in 2019 and in Syria.

The broader context involves years of Iran arming Iraqi militias with missiles and drones. These groups have conducted numerous attacks against Israel since 2023. Since US and Israeli airstrikes began in February, Iran has tried to turn Iraq into a frontline. Iran has carried out over 1,000 strikes on the Kurdistan Region, while allied militias have mounted 600 attacks across Iraq. The US withdrew its forces from Iraq on September 30, and has warned Americans to avoid traveling to Baghdad.

The newspaper linked these recent events to reports of China supplying weapons to Iran, though that connection remains unconfirmed. China's Foreign Ministry denied those reports in July. Additionally, an Iran-backed militia recently attacked a Saudi pipeline using a drone from Iraq's Maysan province. That border crossing has since closed due to US pressure and Iraqi concerns about trafficking.

Asharq Al-Awsat concluded that these strikes signal a new round of conflict. A source in the Shi'ite Coordination Framework said ruling leaders had predicted that renewed war would start with the destruction of Iraqi faction capabilities. Most major groups in the PMF, excluding the Badr Organization, are sanctioned by the US as terrorist organizations. Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq issued a statement claiming that Iraqi airspace was being violated.