Iraqi air defenses shoot down nine drones targeting military sites in Dhi Qar and Basra

BAGHDAD — Iraqi air defenses shot down nine drones that attempted to target military sites in Dhi Qar and Basra on Saturday, with no casualties or material losses recorded, the Joint Operations Command said Sunday.

Specialized defenses detected and downed four drones that attempted to strike Imam Ali Air Base in Dhi Qar in two separate incidents, while five additional drones targeting military sites in Basra were intercepted at different times, the Security Media Cell said.

The attempted strikes follow the Islamic Resistance in Iraq’s claim Saturday of 16 drone operations against U.S. bases in Iraq and the region. Earlier Saturday, a drone attack on a separate military site in Basra wounded one soldier.

Iraq has been struck from multiple directions since U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes on Iran on Saturday. Unattributed airstrikes hit Jurf al-Nasr in Babil twice, killing two people, while Iranian projectiles targeting a U.S. base near Erbil airport and the U.S. Consulate were intercepted. Iraq has closed its airspace as security forces continue to monitor the situation.