Latest news with #HashedAlShaabi
The National
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Drone carrying explosives shot down near Iraq's Erbil airport
A drone laden with explosives was shot down near Erbil airport in northern Iraq late on Thursday, the latest in a spate of drone attacks around the country in recent days. The counter-terrorism agency in the Kurdistan region said no casualties or damage had been reported, but the incident, at 9.58pm local time, delayed the landing of one aircraft. It was unclear who was responsible for the attack. Erbil's airport authority said 'flight operations continued normally and the airport was not affected by any damage'. The National has contacted authorities in Erbil for further comment. Erbil is the capital of Iraq's three-province Kurdistan region. The airport often comes under attack as it hosts an American airbase with hundreds of military personnel. The US usually blames such incidents on Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Iranian proxy groups have frequently threatened to expand attacks on US bases in the region. In recent days, drone and rocket attacks have been reported in several areas of Iraq, including drones that landed in open spaces. Earlier on Thursday, an explosive-packed drone fell near Kirkuk airport, which was also struck on Monday by two rockets, a senior security official told news agency AFP. Kirkuk airport hosts Iraqi army units, federal police and the Hashed Al Shaabi, a coalition of pro-Iran former paramilitary forces now integrated into Iraq's regular armed forces. On Tuesday, Iraq's anti-aircraft defence engaged at least one drone near the key oil refinery of Baiji in Salaheddin province. The incidents follow a 12-day aerial war between Iran and Israel that killed hundreds of people. During the war, several radar systems in Iraq were attacked by unidentified drones targeting military bases. Dozens of drones and missiles were seen flying through Iraqi airspace. One drone hit a radar system at Al Taji military base, north of Baghdad. Another drone attacked the radar system at the Imam Ali airbase in the southern Dhi Qar province, according to the government in Baghdad. Iraq has long been a battleground of drone and rocket attacks and has proved fertile ground for proxy wars. The country has only recently regained a semblance of stability after decades of devastating conflicts and turmoil.
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Rockets fired at Iraq airport, two wounded: Security official
Two rockets struck the military section of Kirkuk Airport in northern Iraq late on Monday, slightly wounding two security personnel, a senior security official told AFP. Another rocket fell on a house in the city of Kirkuk, causing material damage. 'Two Katyusha rockets fell in the military section of Kirkuk Airport,' slightly wounding two security personnel, the official said, requesting anonymity because he is not allowed to speak to the media. One rocket did not explode, according to the official. 'A third rocket struck a house in the Uruba neighborhood,' causing material damage, the source added. The military sector of Kirkuk's airport includes bases for the Iraqi army, the federal police, and the Hashed al-Shaabi, a coalition of former pro-Iranian paramilitary forces now integrated into the regular armed forces. A security source told the official INA news agency that two rockets struck the military airbase at Kirkuk Airport, one of which fell near the runways, and another hit a house in the city. There has been no claim of responsibility for the attacks. Iraq has long been a battleground of drone and rocket assaults and a fertile land for proxy wars. But it only recently regained a semblance of stability after decades of devastating conflicts and turmoil. Last week, hours before a ceasefire ended the 12-day Iran–Israel war, unidentified drones struck radar systems at two military bases in Baghdad and southern Iraq. The government said it launched a probe into the drone attacks, but it has not yet identified any perpetrators.
