Drone Attack in Iraq
On Monday, a drone carrying explosives was intercepted and shot down near the Arbil International Airport, a facility that houses US troops as part of the international coalition against jihadist forces in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region. According to Kurdish security forces, the drone was neutralized at 2:20 AM local time (11:20 GMT) without resulting in any casualties or damage.
This incident marks the second drone interception near Arbil airport within the same month. Over the years, this airport has been a frequent target for both rocket and drone attacks, reflecting ongoing regional tensions.
Recent Attack Details
The Kurdish counterterrorism services confirmed that no group has yet claimed responsibility for this latest drone attack. Prior to this, on July 3rd, another drone was taken down in the same vicinity, with the regional interior ministry linking that attack to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), known in Arabic as Hashed al-Shaabi.
The PMF is a coalition of paramilitary groups with allegiance to Iran, which has since integrated into Iraq’s regular armed forces. The Iraqi federal government in Baghdad has firmly rejected the accusations against these forces, labeling them as “entirely unacceptable,” particularly due to the lack of solid evidence supporting such claims.
Escalating Violence in Iraq
The recent increase in drone and rocket attacks has raised alarm across Iraq, a country still grappling with the aftermath of years of conflict. Authorities have reported several drones landing in open areas, further complicating the security landscape.
Iraq has historically been a battleground for various proxy conflicts, and the repeated attacks only serve to underscore the fragility of the nation’s recent attempts to stabilize after decades of war and unrest. Following years of turmoil, the Iraqi people are hoping for a return to peace, yet these incidents challenge that aspiration.
