Army says drone launched at Israel by Iran-backed militia in Iraq shot down by jets
Islamic Resistance in Iraq claims latest attack on country, the sixth within a day; no injuries caused
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
A drone launched at Israel by an Iran-backed militia in Iraq in the early hours of Monday morning was shot down by Israeli fighter jets, the military said.
It was at least the sixth attack from Iraq within 24 hours.
Sirens had sounded in several southern Golan Heights communities amid the early Monday incident.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, the drone made its way toward Israel from Iraq by flying over Syria. It was shot down by fighter jets outside of Israeli airspace, according to the military.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq took responsibility for the incident, saying on Monday morning that the group had targeted an Israeli observation base in northern Israel with drones.
The coalition of pro-Iran armed groups said the attacks were launched “in support of our people in Gaza.”
Late Sunday night, sirens had sounded in numerous communities in the Beit She’an Valley as interceptor missiles were launched at another drone that had entered Israeli airspace.
According to the military, that drone had also been launched from Iraq, and it flew over Syria before reaching Israel. The IDF did not elaborate on whether the drone was intercepted. Military sources said it was likely downed, but the incident was still under investigation.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq took responsibility for the drone, along with four additional drone and cruise missile attacks on Sunday. Israeli air defenses intercepted all of them.
????مشاهد من اطلاق المقاومة الإسلامية في العراق طيران مسير اتجاه هدف حيوي في أراضينا المحتلة
بتاريخ 22-9-2024 pic.twitter.com/sTA4rJx4ld
— المقاومة الاسلامية في العراق (@AlmqawmtR27445) September 22, 2024
There were no injuries in any of the attacks on Sunday and Monday.
The same Iraqi group has claimed to have launched numerous drones at Israel amid the war in the Gaza Strip, most of which failed to cross Israel’s border or were downed by air defenses.
Amid the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and on the northern border, Israel has also faced missiles fired by the Houthis in Yemen and was the target of a direct attack from Iran after an Israeli strike in Lebanon earlier this year killed several Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officials.
The Iranian attack in April involved some 300 missiles and drones being fired toward Israel, the vast majority of which were shot down by a US-led coalition, and the attack ended with only one Israeli injury when a girl was wounded by shrapnel.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
