Smoke rises from an Iraqi army base in Makhmour district after an explosive drone strike, in images captured from video circulating online.
Iraqi forces shoot down drones targeting base in Makhmur, says Defense Ministry
MAKHMUR — Iraqi forces shot down four explosive-laden drones targeting a military sector in Makhmur district on Thursday, the Ministry of Defense said, with no casualties reported among forces or civilians.
Units from the Field Engineering Battalion of the 14th Infantry Division under Nineveh Operations Command intercepted the drones “with high efficiency” before they reached their targets, the ministry said. It added that “the relevant authorities have begun taking the necessary measures and are following up on the circumstances of the incident.”
The Ministry of Defense said its “armed forces are at the highest levels of readiness and preparedness to confront any threat targeting the country’s security, and that such attacks will not affect the determination of our forces to continue their duties.”
Video circulating online shows the moment the base was struck, with a powerful explosion followed by large plumes of smoke. Other footage appears to show a drone scoring a direct hit on what looks like a storage building.
Earlier Thursday, 964media reported three drone strikes on the Engineering Department of the same division in Makhmur, with security sources saying the strikes primarily hit military machinery and vehicles.