22 Members of the People's Mujahedin Killed in Rocket Attack on Liberty Camp

A spokesperson for the Iraqi armed forces reported that around 15 rockets struck near the location where members of the People's Mujahedin of Iran are held near Baghdad. However, the spokesperson for this organization claimed that '80 missiles were fired into' the camp, resulting in the deaths of 22 of its members. Reuters, citing Yahya Rasool, spokesperson for the Joint Operations Command, reported that these rockets hit the vicinity of Camp Liberty near Baghdad International Airport on Thursday, November 7. Mr. Rasool also stated that there is currently no data on potential casualties from this incident. Despite this, Reuters noted that it is unclear whether the members of the People's Mujahedin of Iran were the intended targets of these rockets. Meanwhile, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (the political branch of the People's Mujahedin) announced that '80 missiles of various models' struck 'inside' the camp. The organization released images of a large fire at Camp Liberty, confirming the deaths of at least 22 of its members. Shahin Qabadi, spokesperson for the People's Mujahedin of Iran, also confirmed this issue and the statistics in an interview with Radio Farda. The National Council stated that 122mm Katyusha rockets and missiles known as Falaq were used in this attack. According to this council, Hossein Abriashmchi, an old commander and high-ranking member of this organization, was among the casualties. Camp Liberty (Freedom) has been a holding facility for members of the People's Mujahedin of Iran since 2012, following the closure of Camp Ashraf, until their transfer to a safe country. The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the People's Mujahedin to be a 'terrorist' group and refers to it as 'the hypocrites.' In contrast, this organization labels the Islamic Republic with terms such as 'the clerical regime' and accuses it of dictatorship. The People's Mujahedin of Iran was among the groups supporting the Islamic Revolution of 1979, conducting numerous armed operations against the Pahlavi monarchy. However, shortly after the establishment of the Islamic Republic, conflicts arose between this group and the leaders of the newly formed government. Armed clashes between the People's Mujahedin forces and those affiliated with the Islamic Republic resulted in hundreds of casualties. Sadegh Khalkhali, the Islamic judge in the early years after the revolution, reported the execution of teenagers and unarmed members of this organization. From the mid-1980s, under the support of Saddam Hussein, the organization moved its headquarters to Iraq. In 1988, the People's Mujahedin launched attacks against border cities in Iran with the aim of capturing them and fighting against the Islamic Republic, which, despite initial victories, ultimately faced severe defeat. A few months later, thousands of imprisoned members and supporters of this organization in Iran were executed by order of Ruhollah Khomeini, the then-leader of the Islamic Republic. All those executed had been tried and convicted before their executions and were serving their prison sentences.