Iraqi firefighters and military personnel respond to a burning radar installation at Taji Military Base following a drone strike in the early hours of June 24.
Media Monitor
Iraqi analyst suggests Mossad-linked network may be behind Iraq drone strikes
BAGHDAD — Iraqi political analyst Nizar Haidar has claimed that recent drone strikes on Iraqi military bases may have been part of a broader effort to weaken the country’s air defenses ahead of potential Israeli operations.
Speaking on the YouTube program Bi Kulli Jura’a, hosted by journalist Mahdi Jassim, Haidar said he was alleges by a “senior source” in the National Security Advisory that the drones that struck Taji Military Base and Imam Ali Air Base in Dhi Qar were Iranian-made, but not launched by Iran’s official military.
“I contacted a senior source in the National Security Advisory in Baghdad,” Haidar said. “He told me that all of the drones were long-range and manufactured in Iran. But after further investigation, it was confirmed that they were launched from outside Iraqi territory — specifically from the Iranian-Iraqi border region.”
964media has not verified the claims.
According to Haidar, Iraqi officials then contacted Tehran to clarify the origin of the drones. “Iran denied any military activity in that timeframe,” he said, adding that Baghdad was ultimately persuaded the drones had been launched by a covert group operating independently of the Iranian government.
“These are not official Iranian drones,” Haidar claimed. “They are run by a deep network infiltrated by Mossad within the structure of the Iranian state.”
Haidar did not offer evidence for the allegation, and Iraqi authorities have not publicly commented on the claim. No group has taken responsibility for the drone attacks.
He warned that the ultimate aim of the strikes might be to “clear Iraqi airspace” ahead of possible Israeli operations targeting leaders of Iraqi armed groups involved in recent cross-border attacks during the Iran-Israel conflict. “This could mirror what happened 13 days ago in Iran, when Israeli strikes came after a similar neutralization of air defenses,” he said. “What happened to Iranian airspace is being rehearsed here.”
Haidar argued that the targeting of radar systems — rather than personnel or weapons depots — pointed to broader strategic motives. “That means the state itself is being targeted,” he said.
He also dismissed speculation that Iraq-based armed factions could be behind the attacks. “Even with their recklessness, I don’t believe these groups would go so far as to weaken the Iraqi state itself,” he said.
Over the past two weeks, Iranian authorities have reported arresting hundreds of individuals accused of “collaborating” with Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. Haidar cited those arrests as evidence of what he described as a covert infiltration effort.
“These arrests,” he said, “included people launching drones, building explosives, and filming sensitive sites. That tells you how deeply penetrated the system is.”
Haidar further criticized what he viewed as the Iraqi government’s delayed and subdued response to the attacks. “The spokesman for the commander-in-chief was late,” he said. “And when it was finally clear Iran wasn’t behind it, the language became sharp. They called it a ‘cowardly act’ and promised retaliation — because they realized who was really behind it.”
The strikes, which took place early Tuesday, damaged radar systems at Taji and Imam Ali bases but caused no casualties. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani has since ordered the formation of a technical and intelligence committee to investigate the incident.
Officials have not named a suspected perpetrator.
