“Everything in these claims are baseless and without fact. It is just a worthless political excuse and their aim is to divert and change the truth for personal [political] profit,” the KRG statement said.

The statement came after some Iraqi media outlets ran stories alleging that Israel had a military base in Erbil.

The claims come after several weeks of speculation over whether Israel was responsible for a number of so-far unexplained explosions at facilities belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella organization for a number of largely Shia militias, NRT reported.

PMF leaders have blamed Israel and the United States for at least some of the attacks, but no physical evidence, such as missile remnants, have been produced.

The Pentagon has denied any involvement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has done little to tamp down speculation that Israel is responsible.

Iraq does not diplomatically recognize Israel.

Comments earlier this year by Iraqi ambassador to the US Fareed Yasseen seen by some as supportive of establishing a relationship between Baghdad and Tel Aviv were quickly walked back by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Reporter’s code: 50101