Iraq Moves To Strengthen Air Defenses After Coalition Withdrawal
Iraq’s federal security forces and Peshmerga are fully capable of protecting the country’s territory and airspace following the withdrawal of Coalition forces, Iraq’s Security Media Cell said.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Iraq is preparing to strengthen its air defense capabilities following the withdrawal of Coalition forces, with Baghdad expected to sign contracts with several major powers to acquire advanced air defense systems in the near future, according to Tahsin al-Khafaji, deputy head of Iraq’s Security Media Cell.
Speaking to Kurdistan24 on Friday, Khafaji said Iraq’s armed forces, including the army, internal security forces, intelligence and national security agencies, Popular Mobilization Forces and Peshmerga forces, are fully prepared to protect the country’s territorial sovereignty and airspace after the departure of Coalition forces.
Khafaji stressed that no Coalition soldiers remain on Iraqi territory, saying the final Coalition soldier withdrew on Sept. 30.
With the withdrawal completed, he said Iraq’s security has now come fully under the responsibility of its domestic forces, while Baghdad’s relationship with the Coalition has entered a new phase of bilateral relations focused on training and armament.
The Iraqi official also addressed reports circulating on social media claiming that an F-16 fighter jet had crashed over Baghdad.
Khafaji described the reports as false and baseless, saying Iraq’s Ministry of Defense had officially rejected the claims.
He said all F-16 fighter jets that took part in a military display over Baghdad completed their flights safely and returned to their bases.
On efforts to fill the air defense gap following the Coalition withdrawal, Khafaji said the commander-in-chief of the armed forces is insisting on acquiring the most modern air defense systems.
He said the necessary budget would be allocated for the purchases and that Iraq would sign contracts with several major powers in the near future to obtain advanced air defense systems.
Training would also be provided to Iraqi forces on how to operate the systems, Khafaji said.
The planned measures are intended to prevent any infiltration or security gaps in Iraqi airspace, he added.