Drone shot down near Iraqi airport hosting US troops, security forces say

A drone was intercepted late last night near Arbil airport, which houses US-led anti-jihadist coalition troops in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, Kurdish security forces say.

“At 9:58 p.m., an explosive-packed drone was downed near Arbil International Airport, without causing casualties or damage,” says the counterterrorism services of the Kurdistan region.

Arbil airport, which includes a military base of the international anti-jihadist coalition, was a frequent target in previous years for rocket and drone attacks.

A US defense official tells AFP, “We are aware of an explosion from a UAV that occurred outside of the airbase in Arbil,” adding that the “incident is under investigation.”

“All US personnel are accounted for and there were no injuries or damage to the base or US assets in the area,” he says.

Dana Tofeek, the airport’s interim director, tells AFP that the facility is “safe,” adding that “only one flight was slightly delayed due to security measures.”

There has been no claim of responsibility for the drone attack.

In the past days, drone and rocket attacks have been reported in different parts of Iraq, including drones that landed in open spaces.