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PMU’s military base in southern Iraq comes under drone attacks

The photo purportedly shows the aftermath of a drone attack against an equipment depot of the Imam Ali Brigade of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) in Iraq’s Najaf province, July 26, 2021.

A military base belonging to a division of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), better known as Hashd al-Sha’abi, has come under drone attacks in the vicinity of the southern Iraqi city of Najaf.

In a statement, Sheikh Taher al-Khaqani, the leader of the Imam Ali Brigade of the PMU, said at least two separate drone attacks hit one of the bases of his division in the southern province of Najaf on Monday.

He added that the al-Deyuk camp was first hit at 3:30 p.m. local time and for a second time at 5:30 p.m.

The military commander added that a reconnaissance operation was launched soon after the attacks took place.

Some Iraqi sources have reported two more drone attacks in the vicinity of the city of Najaf, including one targeting a residential complex causing material damage, but official sources have not corroborated those reports.

There has been no immediate reports on possible casualties of the attacks and Iraqi security officials have refused to give more details.

The U.S.-led military coalition, which claims to be supporting Iraqi forces against the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, issued a statement later, saying that it had not carried out any airstrikes in Iraq or Syria in the last two days.

Hashd al-Sh’abai fighters have played a major role in the liberation of areas held by the Daesh Takfiri terrorists to the south, northeast and north of Baghdad, ever since the terrorists launched an offensive in the country in June 2014.

Back in November 2016, the Iraqi parliament approved a law giving full legal status to the fighters. It recognized the PMU as part of the national armed forces, placed the forces under the command of the prime minister, and granted them the right to receive salaries and pensions like the regular army and police forces.

Backed by the PMU, Iraq put an end to Daesh’s territorial rule on its soil in late 2017.

However, Daesh sleeper cells have continued to launch terror attacks against security forces and civilians from time to time.


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