Unidentified Drones Destroy Iraqi Military Radar Systems
The strikes hit a radar installation at the Taji military camp, north of Baghdad, and another at the Imam Ali airbase in the southern province of Dhi Qar. A third suspected drone attack reportedly struck a base near Baghdad International Airport, also housing radar systems, according to local media reports.
The incidents came shortly after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, though it remained unclear whether the attacks were connected to the development.
Sudani said on Tuesday his government would not tolerate any act – internal or external – that threatens national security, vowing a firm and decisive response.
'We will not show leniency toward any aggression that harms the security of Iraq,' Sudani said during a cabinet meeting, according to state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA).
'Our response will be resolute and strong,' added Sudani.
He confirmed that Iraqi military bases were targeted in what he described as a 'cowardly and treacherous' attack using explosive-laden suicide drones.
'Our armed forces and air defenses responded swiftly to other attempted attacks on different bases, successfully intercepting and downing the drones,' Sudani said, without elaborating on the origin of the attacks.
The prime minister also welcomed the recently announced ceasefire between Israel and Iran, calling it a 'positive step,' and expressed hope that the truce would be 'solid and lasting, not fragile.'
Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, also described the drone strikes as 'cowardly and treacherous,' saying the attacks caused significant damage to radar infrastructure.
In a statement, al-Numan said a swarm of small, explosive-laden drones had struck the military installations in Taji and Dhi Qar. He confirmed there were no casualties.
Images circulating on social media showed flames engulfing the radar station at the Taji base.
'Our forces were able to thwart additional drone attacks targeting four other locations,' al-Numan added, noting that air defenses successfully downed the incoming UAVs before they reached their targets.
All of the sites targeted in the recent drone attacks were fully operated by Iraqi security forces, dismissing speculation of foreign involvement.
'All targeted locations are exclusively Iraqi military sites, overseen and operated by officers and personnel from our heroic security forces,' said al-Numan.
Following the coordinated attacks, Sudani ordered the creation of a high-level technical and intelligence committee to investigate the incidents, identify those responsible, and fully track the findings of the probe.
'These cowardly criminal acts will not go unpunished,' al-Numan said. 'Our armed forces remain the unshakable shield of Iraq, defending its people, land, and sovereignty.'
Military sources revealed that the first drone strike destroyed a TPS-77 radar system at the Taji military base. A second attack targeted an AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar at the Imam Ali base.
Local media also reported, citing unverified sources, that a third drone targeted a US-made radar system at Victoria Base near Baghdad International Airport, which has previously hosted US troops. Authorities have yet to confirm this claim.
The strikes come amid heightened regional tensions following a US-brokered ceasefire announcement between Israel and Iran.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, the nature and precision of the strikes have raised concerns about a potential escalation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Iraq restores power after blackouts hit the country
Power has been restored in Iraq, a government official said on Tuesday, after electricity outages hit large parts of the country on Monday. Electricity ministry sources had told Reuters a sudden shutdown at the Hamidiya power plant in the western province of Anbar led to a fault in the electricity transmission network that caused a power outage in the central and southern regions of the country. The temperature in the capital Baghdad reached a high of 48 degrees Celsius (118.4 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday. 'The defect was brought under control and fixed in record time, and the power system is now stable,' Adel Karim, an adviser to the Iraqi prime minister, told Reuters on Tuesday. Many Iraqis have relied for years on privately operated generators for power as government-provided electricity was only intermittently available. Others have turned to solar power to help meet their electricity needs. A member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, and one of the world's leading oil producers, Iraq has struggled to provide its citizens with energy since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. In the ensuing turmoil, under-investment and mismanagement left the national grid unable to cope with demand. In March, US President Donald Trump's administration rescinded a waiver that had allowed Iraq to pay Iran for electricity, as part of Trump's 'maximum pressure' campaign against Tehran. Iraq is heavily dependent on Iranian natural gas imports to generate power.
Asharq Al-Awsat
6 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Regional Shifts Loom over Larijani's Talks in Baghdad
Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani began a regional tour on Monday with a visit to Baghdad, holding talks with senior Iraqi officials and signing a memorandum of understanding on border security — though Iraq denied the deal amounted to a full security agreement. Larijani met Iraq's National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji, President Abdul Latif Rashid, and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. The visit included the signing of a memorandum to coordinate border security, which Sudani oversaw. But an Iraqi security source told Asharq al-Awsat the deal was 'only a memorandum of understanding, similar to dozens signed with other countries,' dismissing Larijani's earlier comments to Iranian media that a formal security agreement had been prepared. 'This visit is not a surprise as some outlets claimed — it was planned in advance,' the source said. The trip is Larijani's first official foreign visit since returning to his post and will be followed by a stop in Lebanon. 'We will meet many friends in Iraq from different political currents, listen to their views and share ideas for bilateral cooperation,' Larijani told Iranian media en route to Baghdad. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said the 'sensitive circumstances' in the region required intensified consultations with regional states to safeguard peace and stability in West Asia. An Iraqi security source said talks also covered the security situation in the Middle East and arrangements linked to the Arbaeen pilgrimage, which has brought tens of thousands of Iranians to Iraq. A separate source told Asharq al-Awsat Larijani planned to visit the holy city of Najaf on Monday evening and could meet Grand Ali al-Sistani — though such a meeting was not certain, as Sistani declined to receive Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during his September 2024 visit. The source declined to say whether Larijani's trip aimed to ease tensions between Sudani and some armed factions after a recent exchange of statements that unsettled the Coordination Framework, a coalition of Shi'ite parties and armed groups. The row coincides with the parliament's failure to pass legislation on the Popular Mobilization Forces, blamed by lawmakers on US pressure. Political analysts in Baghdad believe Larijani will meet leaders of armed factions and Coordination Framework figures in an effort to calm disputes, particularly as Iran-aligned groups face what they describe as mounting US pressure that could pave the way for Israeli strikes. 'The timing is crucial for Iran, which appears to be preparing for the possibility of renewed conflict with the United States and Israel,' said Ihsan al-Shammari, head of the Iraqi Political Thinking Center. 'Tehran is seeking to bolster alliances with friendly political forces in Baghdad as Washington pushes to dismantle armed groups and curb Iranian influence in Iraq and Lebanon.' Shammari said the visit also comes amid 'unprecedented public divisions within the Shi'ite political camp' — a development that works against Tehran's interests and may prompt it to freeze disputes for now. 'It's important for Iran, but less so for Iraq, given the US pressure to end Iranian influence,' he added. Eiyad al-Anbar, a political science professor at al-Nahrain University, said Tehran was trying to reorganize its influence in its so-called 'Axis of Resistance' states. 'Iran wants to signal it still wields strong political and security leverage in Lebanon and Iraq, where the disarmament debate is heating up,' he said. 'By linking the Popular Mobilization Forces to broader political messaging, Iran is telling the outside world: we remain powerful and must be factored into any future arrangement,' added al-Anbar.
Asharq Al-Awsat
a day ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Report: Blackout Hits Central, Southern Iraq
Major oil producer Iraq began gradually restoring power on Monday, the state news agency reported citing the electricity ministry, after a power outage hit central and southern regions of the country. Electricity ministry sources had told Reuters earlier a sudden shutdown at the Hamidiya power plant in the western province of Anbar led to a fault in the electricity transmission network. The temperature in the capital Baghdad reached a high of 47 degrees Celsius on Monday. "An emergency power outage occurred this afternoon in the power transmission lines, causing widespread outages across the national electricity grid," Mohammed Nehme, electricity ministry undersecretary for production affairs, said in a statement later. "Our technical teams are currently working to address the fault and restore power. They have begun gradually restoring power, and service will be fully restored within the coming hours." The chair of Iraq's parliament energy committee said in a statement that the outage did not affect the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. Many Iraqis for years have relied on privately operated generators for power as government-provided electricity was only intermittently available. Some others have turned to solar power to help cover their electricity needs. The oil ministry could not immediately be reached for comment. The electricity ministry said it was working in "full emergency mode" to restore power, the state news agency reported. A member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, and one of the world's leading oil producers, Iraq has struggled to provide its citizens with energy since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. In the ensuing turmoil, under-investment and mismanagement have left the national grid unable to cope with demand. Hundreds of Iraqis protested in Baghdad in the summer of 2021, when power and water cuts gripped large parts of the country as temperatures exceeded 50 degrees Celsius. In March, US President Donald Trump's administration rescinded a waiver that had allowed Iraq to pay Iran for electricity, as part of Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran. Iraq is heavily dependent on Iranian natural gas imports to generate power.
