Satellite Images Indicate Iraqi Weapons Depot Hit by Airstrike
Israeli imaging company ISI assesses that the blast in the Saqr military base in Baghdad was caused by an airstrike, “followed by secondary explosions of the explosives stored in the depot”
IsraelDefense
| 15/08/2019
Source: ImageSat International
Israeli company ImageSat International (ISI) released satellite images showing the aftermath of the blast at a weapons warehouse in Baghdad.
The incident occurred Monday evening in the Saqr military base in southwestern Baghdad, which houses a weapons depot for the Iraqi federal police and the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of mostly Shi’ite militias backed by Iran.
The blast set off some of the munitions stored on the base, sending projectiles into surrounding neighborhoods. One person was killed in the explosions, and 13 others were injured, including two police officers and four PMF members, according to the Iraqi interior ministry.
According to ISI’s assessment, the arms depot was destroyed by an airstrike.
“The main building is destroyed with significant collateral damage signs,” the company said, adding that “based on the observed damage characteristics in this image, it is probable that the blast was caused by an airstrike followed by secondary explosions of the explosives stored in the place.”
The day after the explosions rocked Baghdad, an Iraqi defense official blamed Israel for the incident.
“All signs indicate that Israel is completing, with US backing, what it started in Syria by striking Iranian targets,” the unnamed source told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Last month, the London-based newspaper reported that Israel had carried out airstrikes against two Iranian targets northeast of Baghdad.
Israeli imaging company ISI assesses that the blast in the Saqr military base in Baghdad was caused by an airstrike, “followed by secondary explosions of the explosives stored in the depot”
Source: ImageSat International
Israeli company ImageSat International (ISI) released satellite images showing the aftermath of the blast at a weapons warehouse in Baghdad.
The incident occurred Monday evening in the Saqr military base in southwestern Baghdad, which houses a weapons depot for the Iraqi federal police and the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of mostly Shi’ite militias backed by Iran.
The blast set off some of the munitions stored on the base, sending projectiles into surrounding neighborhoods. One person was killed in the explosions, and 13 others were injured, including two police officers and four PMF members, according to the Iraqi interior ministry.
According to ISI’s assessment, the arms depot was destroyed by an airstrike.
“The main building is destroyed with significant collateral damage signs,” the company said, adding that “based on the observed damage characteristics in this image, it is probable that the blast was caused by an airstrike followed by secondary explosions of the explosives stored in the place.”
The day after the explosions rocked Baghdad, an Iraqi defense official blamed Israel for the incident.
“All signs indicate that Israel is completing, with US backing, what it started in Syria by striking Iranian targets,” the unnamed source told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Last month, the London-based newspaper reported that Israel had carried out airstrikes against two Iranian targets northeast of Baghdad.
