Explosive drone targeting coalition troops in Iraq intercepted near Erbil airport

Officials in northern Iraq reported the successful interception of an explosive drone aimed at the international anti-jihadist coalition near Erbil airport on Wednesday.

The incident marks the latest in a series of attacks against foreign troops operating in the country. Launched in the evening by outlaw militias, the drone was neutralized at the military base of the international coalition, according to the anti-terror service of the autonomous region.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, comprising loosely affiliated Iran-linked armed groups, claimed responsibility for the attack at the airport on Wednesday evening. The group, opposing US support for Israel, has asserted its involvement in the majority of the escalating attacks against foreign troops since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas conflict. These groups maintain close ties to Tehran, a state that neither recognizes Israel nor provides substantial support to Hamas.

Since October 17, Washington has reported over 100 attacks against its forces in Iraq and Syria. In response, the United States has conducted targeted strikes against pro-Iran groups in Iraq. Notably, on January 4, a US drone strike in central Baghdad resulted in the demise of two members of Harakat Al-Nujaba, a faction of Hashed Al-Shaabi—a coalition primarily comprising former pro-Iran paramilitary units now integrated into Iraq’s armed forces.

Despite the ongoing security challenges, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, supported by Tehran-aligned parties, reiterated his firm commitment to ending the deployment of foreign troops in Iraq. The international coalition, spearheaded by Washington, has been stationed in Iraq and Syria since 2014, aiming to combat the jihadist threat posed by the Islamic State group. Presently, approximately 2,500 US troops are stationed in Iraq, with an additional 900 deployed in Syria.