Illustrative image.
Early on April 8, two unidentified armed drones attacked Ayn al-Assad Air Base in the western Iraqi province of al-Anbar.
RT’s reporter in Iraq said that one of the unidentified drones was shot down over the air base, while the other crashed near one of the runways. Hundreds of US troops are still present in the air base, supposedly to train Iraqi government forces.
In a statement, the US-led coalition confirmed that an armed drone was shot down by its air-defense systems after approaching Ayn al-Assad Air Base.
“At approximately 1:46 a.m., April 8, U.S. air defense systems shot down an armed unmanned aerial system entering Al Asad Air Base, Iraq.
There are no reported injuries or damage and all Coalition personnel are accounted for. The incident is under investigation,” the statement reads.
Iraqi sources shared photos showing the wreckage of the drone shot down by the coalition, which was apparently made of carbon fibers.
Iraq
Images of the drone that was intercepted early this morning over Ain al-Assad Air Base hosting US-led coalition troops. pic.twitter.com/OF1hcyQGHS
— Nafiseh Kohnavard (@nafisehkBBC) April 8, 2022
Ayn al-Assad Air Base has come under attack on several occasions since the assassination of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Deputy-Commander of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units, and Iran’s Quds Force Commander Maj. Gen. Qassim Soleimani more than two years ago. Pro-Iranian factions in Iraq claimed responsibility for some of the attacks.
Despite facing regular attacks in Iraq and Syria, the US appears to be determined to keep its forces in both countries under the pretext of fighting ISIS.
