Baghdad Security: Suspected Israeli strikes on Chinese air defense stockpiles
Five people were injured in a Baghdad explosion that officials linked to a series of attacks on militia weapons depots.
By Owen Turner ·
Iraqi security sources believe Israel targeted two sites in Baghdad where Iranian-backed militias stored Chinese-made shoulder-fired air defense systems. The London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported the findings on Saturday, citing officials who stated the weapons were supplied by Tehran. The strikes occurred last week, shortly after the shipments arrived at the locations.
The report identified the storage spots as difficult to detect or reach, a characteristic that sources said supported the hypothesis of a precision attack. One official noted that authorities had gathered enough evidence to attribute the incidents to Israel, although the specific model of the air defense system was not disclosed. The newspaper acknowledged that some details remained unconfirmed.
An explosion at a Popular Mobilition Forces base in Baghdad's East Canal area on October 17 injured five people. The PMF, a paramilitary body that includes many Iranian-backed groups, initially described the event as an accident involving obsolete ammunition. The Iraqi government promised an investigation, but an anonymous official said more than a week had passed without a public update on the circumstances.
Sources connected this incident to an earlier blast on October 1 that affected warehouses linked to Iran-backed groups. These sites reportedly held drones intended for reconnaissance and suicide attacks. A security official stated that while the nature of the strikes was not fully determined, the evidence pointed toward Israeli responsibility.
This follows a pattern of previous accusations, including strikes in 2019 and an attack on a site in Albukamal, Syria, near the Iraqi border. The Wall Street Journal reported in May that Israel operated a secret airstrip in Iraq during its campaign against Iran. Unconfirmed accounts also suggest Israeli fighter jets have flown through Iraqi airspace near the Iranian border with support from midair refuelers.
The context of these strikes includes a broader regional conflict. Since the US and Israel began airstrikes in February, Iran has increased its use of Iraqi territory. Iran and allied militias have launched 600 attacks across Iraq, some targeting US diplomatic sites, while the US withdrew its forces on September 30. A source in the Shi'ite Coordination Framework said ruling party leaders expected a renewed war to begin with the destruction of Iraqi faction capabilities.
China's Foreign Ministry denied reports on July 28 that it was supplying weapons to Iran, a connection Asharq Al-Awsat noted but marked as unconfirmed. Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of militias, published a statement claiming Iraqi airspace was being violated following the recent events.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
