Feature: Iraq working to build air-defence force amid frequent airspace violations

A still from a video released on 11 September 2022 shows Iraq's first Thales GM403 air surveillance radar. (Iraqi Ministry of Defence)

Iraq's airspace has been frequently violated since the US military's withdrawal at the end of 2011 due to its almost complete lack of air defences.

Turkish forces operating against Kurdish militants in the north of the country have been the most frequent offenders. In its most recent complaint to the United Nations (UN) Security Council on the issue, Baghdad reported 1,915 Turkish violations of its territory in April–June, up from 1,438 in the first three months of 2024, although it is unclear how many of these were by aircraft or the land forces that maintain bases inside Iraqi territory.

Israel–Iran

Meanwhile, Iraq and Syria have become the primary corridor for the long-range battle between Israel and Iran. While nothing could prevent Iran firing ballistic missiles at Israel over Iraqi territory on 14 April and 1 October, the former attack involved hundreds of cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), all of which failed or were shot down by Israeli, US, British, and reportedly Jordanian jet fighters. Iranian-backed militias have also launched UAVs and cruise missiles at Israel and the US military presence in Iraq and Syria.

The most notable violation came on 26 October when the Israeli Air Force entered Iraqi airspace to carry out a retaliatory attack on Iran. Baghdad lodged a formal complaint with the UN Security Council to protest “the blatant violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity committed by the Israeli entity's military aircraft”. It then noted it has a legitimate right “to use all means to safeguard its sovereignty and respond to these violations”.