BAGHDAD: A large explosion hit an arms depot belonging to an Iranian-backed militia faction north of Baghdad on Tuesday, the latest in a series of mysterious blasts at military bases and munitions depots around the country in the past few weeks.
The explosions have occurred in bases and warehouses belonging to militia groups under the umbrella of the mainly Iran-backed militias known as the Popular Mobilization Forces. The state-sanctioned PMF militias have fought alongside Iraq's regular armed forces against Daesh.
Last week, a massive explosion at a munitions depot southwest of Baghdad killed one civilian and wounded 13 others. The exact cause for the blast, which terrified residents and damaged nearby homes, is still unknown although some officials blamed it on faulty storage.
Last month, an explosion took place at a base in Amirli, in Iraq's northern Salaheddin province, killing two Iranians and causing a huge fire. That attack was blamed on an unmanned drone that dropped explosives, with some Shiite militias blaming it on Daesh.
In response to the explosions, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi last week banned unauthorized flights throughout the country and ordered all military camps and munitions warehouses to be moved outside Iraqi cities. He ordered an urgent investigation into the explosions, whose results he said should be concluded within a week.
No one has claimed responsibility for those explosions or Tuesday's blast near the Balad air base in Salaheddin province, which sent smoke billowing from the area.
They said the blast occurred in a depot belonging to the PMF and that an investigation was underway.
The Iraqi Civil Defense said in a statement that the blast occurred near Balad air base, one of the country's largest, which is home to US trainers and is about 80 kilometers north of Baghdad. It said its members were trying to control a fire caused by the blast.
A Shiite militia group is stationed nearby.
The mysterious blasts have given rise to a host of theories, including that Israel may have conducted an airstrike.
Israel has struck Iranian bases in neighboring Syria on numerous occasions, and there has been speculation that it might be expanding its campaign to target Iranian bases to include Iraq.
However, neither the Iraqi government nor Israel have addressed the reports.
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Explosion hits arms depot for Iran-backed faction in Iraq
Explosion hits arms depot for Iran-backed faction in Iraq
- Tuesday's blast is the latest in a series of mysterious explosions at military bases and munitions depots around the country
- Blast hit near Balad air base in Salaheddin province sending smoke billowing from the area
Syria reveals new post-Assad banknotes
DAMASCUS: Syrian leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa unveiled on Monday new banknotes replacing those showing ousted ruler Bashar Assad and his family, hoping the Syrian pound can regain some of the value lost to over a decade of war.
Improving the standing of the Syrian pound is among the greatest challenges for Syria’s new authorities, who will remove two zeros, in a process known as redenomination.
The new bills, which range from 10 to 500 Syrian pounds, will enter circulation on January 1. They show images of roses, wheat, olives, oranges and other agricultural symbols for which Syria is famous.
After unveiling the banknotes, Sharaa said the new currency marks “the end of a previous, unlamented phase and the beginning of a new phase that the Syrian people... aspire to.”
“The new currency design is an expression of the new national identity and a move away from the veneration of individuals.”
Since the start of Syria’s civil war in 2011, the pound has plunged from 50 to around 11,000 against the greenback, and Syrians are forced to carry huge wads of banknotes even for basic needs like grocery shopping.
The removal of the zeros, which does not impact the currency’s value, was done to make transactions easier and restore trust in the Syrian pound.
“If someone wants to buy something simple, they need to carry bags in order to trade, so people go for dollars,” Sharaa said, adding that the currency revamp will boost “the national currency within the country and strengthen trust.”
“Syria deserves a strong economy and a stable currency.”
Syria’s old banknotes were printed in Russia, Assad’s former backer.
When asked by journalists, Syrian central bank chief Abdul Qadir Al-Hasriya did not specify where the new currency will be printed.
Improving the standing of the Syrian pound is among the greatest challenges for Syria’s new authorities, who will remove two zeros, in a process known as redenomination.
The new bills, which range from 10 to 500 Syrian pounds, will enter circulation on January 1. They show images of roses, wheat, olives, oranges and other agricultural symbols for which Syria is famous.
After unveiling the banknotes, Sharaa said the new currency marks “the end of a previous, unlamented phase and the beginning of a new phase that the Syrian people... aspire to.”
“The new currency design is an expression of the new national identity and a move away from the veneration of individuals.”
Since the start of Syria’s civil war in 2011, the pound has plunged from 50 to around 11,000 against the greenback, and Syrians are forced to carry huge wads of banknotes even for basic needs like grocery shopping.
The removal of the zeros, which does not impact the currency’s value, was done to make transactions easier and restore trust in the Syrian pound.
“If someone wants to buy something simple, they need to carry bags in order to trade, so people go for dollars,” Sharaa said, adding that the currency revamp will boost “the national currency within the country and strengthen trust.”
“Syria deserves a strong economy and a stable currency.”
Syria’s old banknotes were printed in Russia, Assad’s former backer.
When asked by journalists, Syrian central bank chief Abdul Qadir Al-Hasriya did not specify where the new currency will be printed.
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