Explosions Rock Positions Of Iranian Allies In Iraq. US Fiercely Denies Its Involvement

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Last night a series of explosions rocked positions of Iranian allies from the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) of the Iraqi Armed Forces southwest of Baghdad in what was described by local sources as US-Israeli strikes.

The PMU is a coalition of paramilitary group, many of them linked with Iran, that payed a key role in the war on ISIS on the territory of Iraq and in fact rescued the country, when US-backed government forces collapsed under the pressure of the terrorist group. The United States claims that the PMU is ‘Iranian proxies’ and ‘terrorists’, while in fact Washington was directly coordinating its ‘campaign against ISIS’ in Iraq with the PMU because without this force it was not possible to defeat ISIS.

The last night strikes targetd PMU positions near Jurf al-Sakhr, and were promoted by pro-Israeli and pro-US sources as a response to regular attacks of local Iraqi resistance groups on US forces and facilities in the country. The tensions between US forces and locals are especially high since the assassination of Iraian Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani and several prominent PMU officers in a US strike on Baghdad in January 2019.

Despite reports about US F-16 jets participating in the attack, the US CENTCOM denied its involvement.

New: @CENTCOM isn't aware of **any** strikes tonight in #Iraq per @Reuters. https://t.co/CbeMDYCDlf

— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) January 19, 2021

Meanwhile, the Iraqi military reported that there were no strikes on PMU positions. Instead, Baghdad reported explosions on power transmission line poles, which were allegedly conducted by militants (ISIS).

تعرض بعض أبراج نقل الطاقة الكهربائية في منطقة البهبهاني شمالي محافظة بابل الى اعتداء وتخريب من قبل عناصر عصابات داعش الإرهابية، فسرها البعض على أنها قصف طائرات حربية.
من جانبها باشرت قوة أمنية بعملية تفتيش بحثا عن العناصر التي أقدمت على هذا العمل الارهابي.

— خلية الإعلام الأمني?? (@SecMedCell) January 19, 2021

تداولت بعض وسائل الإعلام ومواقع التواصل الاجتماعي أنباء غير صحيحة بشأن تعرض قطعات القوات الأمنية شمالي محافظة بابل الى اعتداءات ليلة امس.
وفي الوقت الذي ننفي فيه هذا الأنباء ندعو وسائل الإعلام والمدونين الى توخي الدقة في نقل المعلومات وعدم بث الشائعات لمحاولة ارباك الرأي العام.

— خلية الإعلام الأمني?? (@SecMedCell) January 19, 2021

There are also some photos of the targeted transmission lines. Despite this, pro-PMU sources continue to claim that the PMU positions were targeted by strikes.

Last night’s “US airstrikes on PMF/Iraq Army positions” in Jurf al-Sakhr was an explosion that targeted a transmission tower. No casualties. pic.twitter.com/UM467lNyzG

— Hayder al-Khoei (@7ayder87) January 19, 2021

The incident took place as US supply convoys continued suffering from IED attacks across the country. Most recently the attacks took place in the areas of Naseriyah, Diwaniyah and Samawah.

On January 18, a logistical convoy of the U.S military was targeted by an IED attack in the Naseriyah area;
On January 18, a logistical convoy of the U.S military was targeted by an IED attack in the Diwaniyah area;
On January 18, a logistical convoy of the U.S military was targeted by an IED attack in the Samawah area.