ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - An explosion rocked a military base in Baghdad province on Sunday after ammunition stored in a warehouse detonated because of high temperatures, sparking a fire, a senior security official said.

The explosion occurred at Camp Taji, about 27 kilometers north of the Iraqi capital.

“An ammunition explosion has occurred inside Taji Camp, with some munitions detonating as a result of the heat,” head of Iraq’s Security Media Cell, Saad Maan, said in a statement.

He added that Civil Defense teams were immediately dispatched to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading. The extent of the damage and whether there were any casualties remain unknown.

Iranian media circulated footage showing a plume of smoke rising from the site, claiming the ammunition depot belonged to US forces. The ammunition belongs to Iraq's Ninth Armored Division, defense ministry spokesperson Yahya Rasul said in a statement.

Camp Taji hosted troops from the US-led global coalition before coalition forces withdrew from the base in 2020. The camp currently does not host any foreign personnel.

On June 24, 2025, the base was struck by drones that damaged its radar after Iraqi military sites and bases were targeted in a barrage of drone attacks toward the end of the 12-day Iran-Israel war.

Iraq frequently experiences fires, exacerbated by the lack of enforcement of fire and safety regulations. The risks significantly increase during the scorching summer months, with extreme heat heightening the chance of blazes occurring.

Despite recent government measures, the scale and frequency of fire incidents continue to raise serious concerns about public safety and regulatory oversight.