Drone Loaded with Explosives Intercepted Near Erbil Airport in Iraq

On the evening of Thursday, July 4, Iraq's anti-terrorism unit reported the successful interception of a drone loaded with explosives near Erbil International Airport in the northern part of the country, with no casualties or damage reported.

Two security sources confirmed the operation was executed without any injuries, while an official statement noted that the airport hosts a base for the U.S.-led international coalition against ISIS.

This incident occurs amid a rise in drone attacks across various regions in Iraq. On July 1, three projectiles of unknown origin landed near Kirkuk International Airport at 11:30 PM, according to an official statement from the airport administration, also without injuries.

On June 18, the anti-terrorism unit in Iraqi Kurdistan announced the destruction of another explosive-laden drone near the village of Sharawa, detected through precise intelligence information.

On June 24, U.S. forces in Iraq intercepted five attack drones targeting bases near Baghdad Airport, while two drones fell near a base in Erbil over consecutive days. These attacks caused damage to radar systems at the Taji and southern Iraq bases but did not result in injuries.

The increasing frequency of these attacks indicates a rise in the use of drones for targeting sensitive sites, particularly those with international military presence, amid complex security conditions in the country.

Security authorities in the Kurdistan region and across Iraq are enhancing their capabilities to detect and intercept these threats, in collaboration with international partners.