Two drones launched from Iran toward Israel were intercepted and shot down over Iraq by the U.S.-led international coalition combating the Islamic State group, Iraqi military officials told AFP on Sunday, June 15.
The drones were downed overnight between Saturday, June 14, and Sunday, June 15, by coalition forces stationed at the Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq, which hosts foreign troops. One official, speaking anonymously, confirmed the drones were headed to Israel when intercepted. Another explained the drones were engaged after entering the coalition’s defensive perimeter, where troops are authorized to respond to perceived threats.
This interception comes amid rising regional tensions following Israel’s unprecedented airstrikes on Iranian territory on Friday, targeting military, nuclear, and residential sites. In response, Iran has launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel. Some of these projectiles have landed in Iraq, mostly in unpopulated desert areas, with no reports of casualties.
On June 13, coalition forces also shot down an explosive drone at the same Ain al-Asad base, according to Iraqi sources.
The Iraqi government maintains a complex position in the conflict, balancing close ties with Tehran alongside a strategic partnership with Washington. The U.S. currently has about 2,500 troops stationed in Iraq as part of its ongoing mission against jihadist groups. Under a bilateral agreement, coalition forces plan to gradually withdraw, leaving federal Iraqi bases by September 2025 and fully exiting the autonomous Kurdistan region by the end of 2026.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi armed group Kataeb Hezbollah issued a warning to the United States on Sunday, threatening retaliation if U.S. forces intervene directly in the Israel-Iran conflict. The group stated that Iran is capable of confronting Israel without outside military help and cautioned that American bases and interests in the region would become targets if the U.S. enters the conflict.
