Baghdad, Aug 21 (AP/UNB) — An Iraqi government fact-finding committee set up to investigate a massive munitions depot explosion near Baghdad earlier this month has concluded the blast was the result of a drone strike.
The report, outlining the findings of the committee, says the Aug. 12 explosion at the al-Saqr military base, which killed one civilian and wounded 28, wasn't caused by faulty storage or an electricity circuit as had been suggested.
The report instead blamed it on a drone strike that caused a huge fire. It didn't say who the drone belonged to. A copy of the report was obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The blast was the latest in a series to hit bases for Iran-backed militia groups operating in Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi ordered an urgent investigation.