US military attacked four Iraq paramilitary bases

Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary group yesterday said it held the US responsible for a string of mysterious blasts in recent weeks at its bases, renewing fears of a possible proxy war.

Over the past month, alleged attacks have targeted four training camps and arms depots used by the Hashed, which is dominated by pro-Iran Shiite groups and is largely opposed to the US.

There have been no claims of responsibility or media access to the facilities, and rumours have swirled of US or even Israeli involvement in targeting the Hashed.

On Wednesday, the paramilitary force said in a statement it had carried out its own investigation and pointed the finger at the US military, but also accused Israel of infringing Iraqi airspace.

"We announce that the first and last entity responsible for what happened are American forces, and we will hold them responsible for whatever happens from today onwards," said the statement, attributed to Hashed Deputy Chief Abu Mehdi al-Muhandis.

He said the attacks were carried out by "agents or in special operations with modern air planes", without providing further details.

Tensions between Iran and the US have soared since May 2018, when President Donald Trump's administration unilaterally pulled out of a landmark 2015 nuclear accord agreed by major world powers with Tehran.

'ISRAELI DRONES'

Muhandis said, "We have accurate and confirmed information that the US this year allowed four Israeli drones to enter via Azerbaijan... to target Iraqi military headquarters."