Iraq says drones that hit military radars were made abroad

Iraq stated on July 18th that the drones which previously struck its military radar systems were launched in Iraq’s soil but produced abroad, according to The New Arab plus agencies. 

Iraq announced on June 24th that a number of small suicide drones struck several Iraqi bases and military sites, such as the radar systems at Camp Taji, North of Baghdad, as well as Imam Ali Base in Dhi Qar Province, south Iraq.

Sabah al-Numan, the prime minister’s military spokesman, stated that “the origin of the drones used in the attacks” have been identified by Iraq, and mentioned that they were “equipped with warheads of varying weights and were manufactured outside Iraq.”

The drones used in the attacks were confirmed to have been launched from different parts of Iraq. They were all likely to have been executed by a “single party.”

Numan also stated that the government recognised the entities that organised and conducted the attacks. However, Numan did not expose where the drones were made or who was responsible for the attacks, but stated that “all those involved… will be referred to the Iraqi Judiciary.”

Iraq has been a nest for conflicts, and frequently experienced such attacks that are typically associated with regional proxy hostilities between Iran, the US and Israel.

The previous attacks in June occurred hours before a ceasefire broke out between Israel and Iran, and followed Iran’s missile attack at a US military facility in Qatar which was carried out in retaliation against US attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites.

Recently, Iraq has faced several drone attacks on the Kurdistan’s region’s oil fields, and Baghdad has vowed to launch an investigation to find the perpetrators. 

Three oil fields in the Kurdish region were hit by drones on July 16th. Additionally, two Kayusha rockets struck a military airbase in north Iraq’s Kirkuk airport on June 30th.

The attacks on Kurdistan’s oil fields occurred against a backdrop of tension between Baghdad and Erbil’s regional administration over oil exports from Kurdistan, which had been discontinued since 2023.

The most recent attack took place on the morning of July 17th on an oilfield, before Baghdad declared an agreement with Erbil to restart oil exports.

The New Arab plus agencies