- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Baghdad Says it Will Down Any Vehicle Violating Iraqi Airspace After Depot Blast

© AFP 2023 / AHMAD AL-RUBAYE An Iraqi Sukhoi Su-25 jet
An Iraqi Sukhoi Su-25 jet - Sputnik International
Subscribe
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abd Mahdi, following a mysterious blast that hit a munitions depot in Baghdad, has ordered the air defences to immediately bring down any aerial vehicle that will violate the country's airspace, the government’s press service said on Thursday.

The decision came after a blast hit the ammo depot in the Iraqi capital on Monday, leaving one civilian killed and dozens injured.

Though the causes of the explosion remain unknown, the incident has given rise to a number of theories, including that Israel might have been allegedly behind the airstrike on the depot belonging to the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces.

"The prime minister ordered to revoke all special flight permits in Iraqi airspace for reconnaissance aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft with weapons, fighters, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles of all kinds available to the Iraqi and non-Iraqi sides", the press service said following the Iraqi National Security Council meeting.

The council also ruled that flight permits would now be issued exclusively by the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, i.e. Mahdi, or officials authorized by him.

"All authorities are required to comply with this order. Any flights that violate this regulation will be considered an aggression, which our air defence will immediately respond to", the statement added.

It is noteworthy that the decision also comes amid the Turkish Air Force's regular raids against the Kurdistan Workers Party’s positions in Iraq, which the latter has repeatedly slammed as an assault on its sovereignty.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала