Iraq paramilitary force blames US for base attacks

Source: Agence France-Presse


BY ALI CHOUKEIR (AFP) 40 MINS AGO

Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary group said Wednesday 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.

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