Latest news with #Katyusha
South China Morning Post
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Florida Supercon 2025 brings together cosplayers, comic book fans and more
A person in a costume made to resemble a tank with a slogan reading 'Katyusha is the best girl'... A person in a costume made to resemble a tank with a slogan reading 'Katyusha is the best girl' from the 'Girls und...
Shafaq News
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Radar warfare puts Iraq's aerial surveillance at risk
Shafaq News A wave of drone and rocket attacks targeting Iraq's radar and air surveillance systems has raised alarms about the country's deteriorating aerial security and its capacity to protect both military and civilian infrastructure. The campaign, marked by the destruction of critical radar units in Baghdad, Dhi Qar, and Kirkuk, has exposed gaps in Iraq's air defense architecture and stirred calls for urgent strategic reform. Coordinated Attacks Attacks on June 24 involving swarms of small suicide drones and Katyusha rockets directly hit Iraqi military radar installations. According to Major General Sabah Al-Naaman, spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, two radar systems were destroyed — one at the Taji Camp north of Baghdad and another at Imam Ali Airbase in Dhi Qar. Al-Naaman confirmed that Iraqi forces intercepted and downed four additional drones en route to separate military sites, asserting that these 'cowardly acts' would not go unanswered. While no casualties were reported, the nature and precision of the strikes prompted renewed concern over Iraq's surveillance resilience. Security sources told Shafaq News that the targeted radar in Dhi Qar had recently intercepted a reconnaissance drone, suggesting that the strike may have been retaliatory. In Baghdad, the Security Media Cell reported that two unidentified drones were detected over the capital. One struck a non-operational radar unit at the Taji base, while the other crashed near a power generator. Separately, drone wreckage was discovered in the Radwaniyah area west of the city. Kirkuk has also emerged as a new hotspot in this wave of attacks. In recent days, the city has been targeted repeatedly by drones and rockets, with particular focus on its dual-use airport. Turkmen MP Arshad Al-Salihi described the situation as a 'dangerous indicator of the scale of the security breach,' demanding an immediate inquiry. 'What's more troubling,' he told Shafaq News, 'is that no one knows where these drones are launched from — and the fact that airport radar systems failed to detect them raises serious concerns.' Despite the aerial assaults, Kirkuk International Airport has continued to operate. Airport spokesman Herdi Al-Salihi emphasized the facility's 'full operational readiness.' Nevertheless, the airport sustained a direct hit earlier when three unidentified projectiles landed within its perimeter. Two landed on the military side and one in the civilian section, causing a minor fire. One person was lightly injured. The fire was quickly contained, and the airport confirmed that no structural damage occurred. Drone Campaign Undermines Air Control Security observers and defense experts have begun referring to the pattern of attacks as an emerging form of 'radar warfare.' Brigadier General Ammar Al-Azzawi cautioned that low-flying drones present a unique challenge, as they can evade standard radar detection systems without advanced early warning integration. 'The only way forward,' Al-Azzawi argued, 'is to integrate all civil and military radar systems into a unified national grid and to upgrade Iraq's air defense platforms to counter modern threats.' Observers believe these are not random acts of sabotage but coordinated elements of an intelligence-driven campaign, as shown by their near-simultaneous strikes across distant provinces. As drone warfare reshapes the battlefield across the region, Iraq's continued exposure could leave not only its military infrastructure but also its civilian aviation and population centers vulnerable to paralyzing strikes.
Shafaq News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Explosions heard near Erbil and Kirkuk airports
Shafaq News – Erbil/Kirkuk On Thursday, two explosions were heard near Erbil International Airport, and a drone crashed in southern Kirkuk, according to a security source. Preliminary information indicates an unidentified object fell near the airport. It remains unclear whether it was a drone or a missile. A security source told Shafaq News that the US base at Erbil Airport intercepted and downed two drones west of the city. The directorate announced in a statement a booby-trapped drone was shot down, without causing any human or material damage. In a separate incident, a security source in Kirkuk told Shafaq News that a drone crashed on Airport Street near Badr neighborhood in the southern part of the city. Security forces were dispatched to the site to investigate. Additionally, Spokesperson for Kirkuk International Airport Hardi Al-Salihi confirmed to Shafaq News, 'There have been no attacks on either the civilian or military sections of the airport,' adding that operations are continuing normally without disruption to scheduled flights. The Head of the Turkmen Parliamentary Bloc, Arshad Al-Salihi, told Shafaq News that the ongoing drone and Katyusha rocket attacks on Kirkuk's civil and military airport signal a serious warning about the scale of the security breach in the city. 'What's even more alarming is that no one knows where these drones are being launched from, nor why they are not being detected despite the presence of radars at the military airport,' he added. Al-Salihi also called on urgent and transparent investigation by the relevant authorities to identify the sources of the threat and hold those responsible accountable. Earlier, an unidentified drone carrying two missiles crashed in an open area near the town of Kokez in Diyala.
Rudaw Net
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Two explosive drones downed over Sulaimani in day of security breaches
Also in Kurdistan UNAMI condemns 'attack' on Yazidi IDP Camp in Duhok, urges probe Baby born with two faces dies shortly after birth in Erbil Peshmerga unification enters final phase, set for completion by year-end: Advisor Kurdistan parliament to enter summer recess despite political stalemate A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two explosive-laden drones were intercepted over Sulaimani province on Tuesday, officials confirmed to Rudaw, with one crashing in the province's northwest. Ahmed Latif, spokesperson for Unit 70 of the Kurdistan Region's Peshmerga Forces, told Rudaw that both drones were brought down within Sulaimani's borders. He specified that 'one was intercepted in the Tasluja area,' northwest of Sulaimani city, while the second was downed 'outside the perimeter of Unit 70's forces.' Latif confirmed that neither incident resulted in casualties or material damage. Salam Abdulkhaliq, head of the Sulaimani-based Asayish (security forces) media team, corroborated the report, stating that 'two drones fell in the Tasluja area within Sulaimani's borders' on Tuesday evening. He added that the Kurdish security forces' investigation teams were dispatched to the scene and have launched a probe. Abdulkhaliq also confirmed no casualties were reported. Earlier on Tuesday, a separate drone incident occurred in the Darkar camp, approximately 36 kilometers northwest of Duhok city. The drone, laden with explosives, caused material damage but no injuries, according to the Kurdistan Region's Directorate General of Counter Terrorism (CTD). The Darkar camp shelters Yazidis displaced from the Shingal (Sinjar) district following the Islamic State (ISIS) assault in 2014. 'It is the first time our camp and subdistrict have experienced such an incident,' Jawhar Mohammed, head of the Darkar subdistrict, told Rudaw on Tuesday, adding that the source of the drone remains unknown. 'It is the first time our camp and subdistrict have experienced such an incident,' Jawhar Mohammed, head of the Darkar subdistrict, told Rudaw. He said the drone crashed near the camp's school, igniting a fire that was quickly contained. Civil defense teams from Duhok province's Zakho city reported that three cabins at the camp caught fire as a result of the drone crash. In a separate security incident the same day, Kirkuk Governor Rebwar Taha reported that three Katyusha rockets struck the city overnight. One rocket hit a residential home, while two others landed between the civilian and military zones of Kirkuk International Airport. According to airport administration officials, the rockets struck at around 11:30 pm local time, injuring one airport employee.
Rudaw Net
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
UNAMI condemns ‘attack' on Yazidi IDP Camp in Duhok, urges probe
Also in Kurdistan Baby born with two faces dies shortly after birth in Erbil Peshmerga unification enters final phase, set for completion by year-end: Advisor Kurdistan parliament to enter summer recess despite political stalemate Erbil emergency water project enters testing phase A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Tuesday strongly condemned an explosion that struck the Darkar camp housing internally displaced Yazidis in the Kurdistan Region's Duhok province, calling for a full investigation into what it described as an 'attack.' In a statement on X, UNAMI said it 'strongly condemns the explosion that targeted a camp for Internally Displaced Persons [IDPs] in Duhok,' emphasizing the need for the 'protection and refraining from targeting of displacement camps - including the Darkar camp for Yazidi IDPs.' The mission called on 'the relevant authorities in Iraq to investigate the incident' and 'to hold accountable those responsible for the attack, which is in clear violation of international law and human rights.' UNAMI also stressed the urgency of adopting 'necessary and urgent measures to prevent the recurrence of such attacks.' Earlier in the day, an explosive-laden drone crashed into the Darkar camp, located about 36 kilometers northwest of Duhok city, according to the Kurdistan Region's Directorate General of Counter Terrorism (CTD), also known as Kurdistan CT. The drone strike caused material damage but resulted in no casualties. The camp shelters Yazidis displaced from the Shingal (Sinjar) district in Nineveh, following the Islamic State's (ISIS) brutal assault in 2014. 'It is the first time our camp and subdistrict have experienced such an incident,' said Jawhar Mohammed, head of the Darkar subdistrict, told Rudaw on Tuesday, adding that the source of the drone remains unknown. 'A large number of refugees are still here. The drone fell near the camp's school. There were no human casualties, but a fire broke out and was contained,' he added. Civil defense teams from Duhok province's Zakho city reported that three cabins at the camp caught fire as a result of the drone crash. Importantly, the incident in Duhok occurred on the same day as a separate security violation in Kirkuk. Kirkuk Governor Rebwar Taha said that three Katyusha rockets struck the city overnight. One rocket hit a residential house - causing no injuries - while two others landed between the civilian and military sections of Kirkuk International Airport. According to airport administration officials, the rockets struck at around 11:30 pm local time, injuring one airport employee.
