UPDATE - 1 killed, 8 injured in explosion at Hashd al-Shaabi militia group’s headquarters

ADDS DEATH TOLL, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Anadolu staff

At least one member of Hashd al-Shaabi militia group was killed and eight others were injured on Saturday in an explosion that targeted its headquarters in the Babil province in central Iraq.

In a statement, the Iraqi Security Media Cell said that one member of the Hashd al-Shaabi group was killed while eight others, including an army member, were injured as a result of an explosion inside the Kalsu military base in the northern Babil province.

The media cell also said that Air Defense Command report showed that there were no aircraft in the airspace of Babil before and during the explosion.

“The heroes of the Civil Defense in Babil and the supporting parties made great efforts, quick measures and reinforcements that prevented the fire from spreading to greater distances and were able to control it in record time,” it said.

A specialized higher technical committee from civil defense and other relevant groups was formed to determine the causes of the explosion and fires at the site and surroundings of the accident area, the media cell added.

Earlier on Saturday, the Hashd al-Shaabi militia group confirmed that an explosion had occurred at its headquarters in the Kalsu military base in the northern Babil province in central Iraq.

The explosion caused material losses and injuries, the paramilitary group said.

Meanwhile, Baghdad Today News Agency reported that “unidentified aircraft targeted the headquarters of Hashd al-Shaabi forces with two missiles at the Kalsu base in Babil province.”

The local Shafaq News agency also quoted an unnamed security source as recording the injury of three members of the Hashd al-Shaabi militia group during a missile strike targeting the Kalsu military base.

US, meanwhile, denied involvement in the blast.

"We are aware of reports claiming that the United States conducted airstrikes in Iraq today. Those reports are not true," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.

Israel also said it was not involved in the blast, according to CNN, citing an official.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi