A drone packed with explosives was intercepted late Thursday night near Arbil International Airport, which serves as a base for US-led anti-jihadist coalition troops in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Kurdish security forces reported that the drone was downed at approximately 21:58 local time (1858 GMT), and thankfully, there were no casualties or damage as a result of the incident.
Arbil airport has been a frequent target for attacks in previous years, including rocket and drone strikes aimed at disrupting the operations of the international anti-jihadist coalition deployed in the area. However, Dana Tofeek, the airport’s interim director, reassured the public by stating that the facility remains “safe” and noted that only one flight experienced a slight delay due to the heightened security measures in response to the threat.
As of now, there has been no claim of responsibility for the drone attack. This incident comes amid a worrying trend of drone and rocket attacks reported across various regions in Iraq in recent weeks. Earlier in the day, an explosive-laden drone also fell near Kirkuk airport, which itself had been targeted by two rockets on Monday. Kirkuk airport accommodates units of the Iraqi army, federal police, and the Hashed al-Shaabi, a coalition of pro-Iranian paramilitary forces now incorporated into the official armed forces.
In a separate incident earlier on Tuesday, Iraq’s anti-aircraft defense successfully engaged at least one drone that was approaching the critical Baiji refinery in Salaheddin province. This uptick in aerial assaults marks a concerning pattern, especially considering that just days before a ceasefire concluded a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, unidentified drones targeted radar systems at two military bases in Baghdad and southern Iraq.
Iraq has historically been a theatre of drone and rocket operations and remains a crucial battleground for proxy conflicts among regional powers. Despite having recently regained a degree of stability following decades of conflict and unrest, the resurgence of such attacks raises serious concerns about ongoing security challenges in the region.
