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Drone Strike Reportedly Sets Off Blasts at Iraqi Shi'ite Militia Weapons
Depot

Edward Yeranian

   CAIRO - A number of people were killed and wounded early Tuesday in
   what reported was a drone strike on an Iraqi Shi'ite militia weapons
   depot in the Anbar province town of Hit, Arab and Iraqi media say.

   The explosion was the fourth such attack at a Shi'ite militia base
   since mid-summer. It was not immediately clear who was behind the
   attack.

   Saudi-owned al Arabiya TV claimed that more than a dozen people were
   killed in the blast, which sent exploding rockets and missiles hurtling
   into surrounding areas. Video of the overnight explosion showed a
   massive fireball climbing into the dark sky, sending plumes of smoke
   and fire in different directions.

   An Iraqi parliamentary investigation into several previous Shi'ite
   weapons depot explosions placed possible blame on poor weapons storage
   and high temperatures. Shi'ite militia Deputy Commander Abou al Mehdi
   al Mohandes has accused both the U.S. and Israel of complicity in the
   explosions. Assorted Arab media reports claim the militias are
   attempting to form their own air force.

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