国际英语新闻:Explosions occur at ammunition depot in western Iraq

BAGHDAD, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Explosions at an ammunition depot occurred on Monday at a military camp of paramilitary tribal Hashd Shaabi force near the town of Heet in Iraq's western province of Anbar, a security source said.

The incident took place at night when a fire broke out at an ammunition depot in al-Mamouriyah area in south of Heet, some 160 km west of Baghdad, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

It was not clear yet what sparked the fire, which led to explosions of mortar rounds, the source said.

Meanwhile, Mohanned al-Mohammadi, head of Heet town council, told local media that the fire was probably due to electrical contact that reached to ammunition and arms in the depot.

The incident occurred at a depot belonging to one of the local tribal Hashd Shaabi regiments in their base which located some 5 km away from the town of Heet, al-Mohammadi said.

During the past weeks, several similar incidents took place in Hashd Shaabi depots in central and western Iraq. The incidents were mainly believed to be attributed to attacks by unknown aircraft.