Iranian drones crash in Iraq en route to Israel
Shafaq News/ Multiple Iranian drones crashed in western and southern Iraq between Saturday night and Sunday morning, as part of a wider wave of UAV activity linked to escalating hostilities between Iran and Israel, security sources told Shafaq News.
In al-Anbar Province, several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) fell in scattered locations, with officials confirming that none were targeting Ain al-Asad Air Base, which hosts both Iraqi and US personnel. Instead, the drones were believed to be on long-range trajectories toward Israeli territory, but likely crashed due to range limitations or technical failures. “All UAVs that fell across Anbar were flying at high altitudes and on extended paths, suggesting their intended targets were far beyond Iraqi territory,” a senior security source said.
Approximately 11 drones were recorded crashing across the province. Some landed near Ain al-Asad, while others fell in remote desert areas. No casualties or material damage were reported. The source stressed that security remains stable, and Iraqi forces continue to monitor the situation.
In Dhi Qar province in southern Iraq, three additional drones crashed in the districts of Sooq al-Shuyoukh, al-Shatra, and Qalat Sukkar, landing in agricultural zones and causing no injuries, a local security source confirmed.
The drones were retrieved by civil defense teams, and initial investigations suggest they were not intended to strike Iraqi targets. The incident follows a similar case on Saturday, when two drones crashed in the Hamira and Umm al-Qata areas of Qalat Sukkar. One was suspected to be an Iranian-made Arash drone, according to preliminary security assessments. “The increasing frequency of drone debris in populated or farming areas has raised concerns,” the source noted, urging tighter surveillance to prevent potential civilian risks.
The drone activity in Iraq’s airspace is unfolding amid a military exchange between Israel and Iran. Following Israeli precision strikes on Iranian nuclear, military, and oil infrastructure, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a retaliatory operation dubbed "True Promise 3", deploying missiles and drones toward Israeli territory.
Iraq’s geographic location between Iran and Israel places it on the flight path of long-range projectiles, especially when Iranian drones traverse the region toward targets in Israel. While not a direct party to the conflict, Iraq has increasingly become a corridor for drone and missile overflight or accidental debris
