Iraq rocked by 'huge explosion' at Iranian-backed military base with massive fireball

A 'massive explosion' has left multiple people injured at an Iranian-backed military base in Iraq - less than 24 hours after Israel hit back at Iran.

Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces department in Babil province, which is south of Baghdad, said an air strike hit Kalsu base.

The cause has yet to be confirmed and an Israeli official told CNN that it was not involved.

The base reportedly houses the PMF, Iraqi army, federal police forces and is home to its chief of staff.

A PMF statement obtained by Sky News said: "An explosion occurred at the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces at the Kalsu military base in the Al-Mashrou district on the highway, north of Babil Governorate.

"An investigation team immediately arrived at the scene, and the explosion caused material losses and injuries. We will provide you with the details once the preliminary investigation is completed."

In footage posted on social media from a car near the scene, a massive fire can be seen raging in the distance.

Then a big explosion sends fragments into the air - with a pillar of fire rising into the sky from the facility.

Another video shot from the other side of the military base shows soldiers scrambling to safety and a giant firetruck heading towards the scene.

One PMF fighter was killed and six were wounded, two sources at a hospital in the nearby city of Hilla said, according to Reuters.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

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It comes less than a day after Israel launched a revenge attack against Iran on Friday morning.

Iran, which briefly closed its airspace following the strikes, was hit by drones which exploded near nuclear bases, which were not being targeted.

Iran fired air defence batteries early on Friday morning across several provinces and Hossein Dalirian, a spokesman for Iran's civilian space program, tweeted that several small" "quadcopter" drones had been shot down.

Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary, told Sky News that both sides need to step back from the brink, with de-escalation "absolutely key".

The semi-official Fars news agency reported on the sound of explosions over Isfahan, the country's third-largest city, near its international airport.

"The city of Ghahjaworstan is located near Isfahan Airport and the eighth hunting base of the Army Air Force," FARS news said.