Iraq Raises Military Readiness to Highest Level, Prioritizes Air Defense

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ali al-Zaidi has ordered the country's armed forces to raise their state of readiness to the highest level, with particular emphasis on the air force, navy, and air defense systems, amid heightened regional tensions.

On Tuesday, the Iraqi Prime Minister's Media Office said al-Zaidi issued the directive during a special meeting attended by the director of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the deputy minister of planning, and several military advisers.

The meeting reviewed the operational readiness of Iraq's armed forces, focusing on strengthening their capabilities and providing advanced military equipment and technology, particularly for the air force, navy, and air defense systems.

Al-Zaidi reaffirmed his government's commitment to allocating the resources necessary to enhance the capabilities of the country's security forces and safeguard Iraq's security and sovereignty, including its land borders, airspace, and territorial waters.

He also instructed all military forces to maintain the highest level of preparedness to respond to any potential developments.

Iraq's security posture remains closely linked to developments across the Middle East, where escalating tensions and the risk of military confrontations have raised concerns about regional stability and the security of national airspace and strategic infrastructure.

The latest directive underscores Baghdad's focus on military preparedness and protecting national sovereignty as regional security challenges continue to evolve. The announcement did not specify a timeline for the readiness measures or identify a particular threat prompting the order.