Iraq says no drones or planes in air at time of army base explosion

Iraq’s security services said on Saturday there were no drones or warplanes in the air during overnight explosions that rocked a military base housing a coalition of pro-Iranian armed groups.

The blasts hit Calso military base in Babylon province south of Baghdad, where Iraq’s pro-Iranian Popular Mobilisation Forces, or Hashed al-Shaabi, are stationed along with army and police forces, officials said.

An Iraqi security forces media unit said in a statement that air defence command reported “no drones or combat aircraft in the airspace of Babylon province before or during the explosion”. (BSS/AFP)