International coalition forces stationed in western Iraq intercepted and shot down two Iranian drones on Saturday night as they were reportedly heading toward Israel, according to an Iraqi official.
The drones were brought down by U.S.-led coalition troops at the Ain al-Asad airbase in Anbar province. A second military source told AFP that the coalition may have considered the drones a threat, as they were flying close to the airspace surrounding the base.
This incident follows the downing of another “booby-trapped drone” by coalition forces on Friday, confirmed by an Iraqi security official. Over the past 48 hours, several missiles and drones have landed in Iraq, mostly in remote desert areas, causing no casualties.
The Iraqi government has expressed its concerns over repeated violations of its airspace, particularly by Israeli aircraft. On Saturday, Baghdad called on the United States to uphold its bilateral agreements and prevent further incursions by what it referred to as the “Zionist entity.”
In a show of mounting pressure, Iran-aligned Iraqi militias have renewed their demand for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces. Kata’ib Hezbollah, one of the most powerful factions, warned of “more wars in the region” should American forces interfere.
Kata’ib Hezbollah Secretary-General Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi issued a strongly worded statement on Sunday, declaring, “We are closely monitoring the movements of the American enemy in the region. If the United States intervenes in the war, we will act directly against its interests and bases without hesitation.”
He further stated that Iran is fully capable of defending itself and deterring Israel without foreign assistance.
Al-Hamidawi also called on the Iraqi government to adopt a “courageous stance” by expelling U.S. forces and closing the US embassy in Baghdad, labeling the U.S. military presence as “the clearest and most dangerous threat to Iraq’s security and regional stability.”
