Iraq denies any drones or missiles were launched from its territory during Iran attack

This handout picture shows Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani holding a press conference in the southern province of Basra Governorate on September 2, 2023. (Iraqi Prime Minister's Press Office/AFP)
This handout picture shows Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani holding a press conference in the southern province of Basra Governorate on September 2, 2023. (Iraqi Prime Minister's Press Office/AFP)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani says Iraq has not received any reports or indications that missiles or drones were launched from Iraq during Iran’s attack on Israel.

Iraq is a rare ally of both Washington and Tehran. Iraqi airspace was a main route for Iran’s unprecedented drone and ballistic missile attack on Israel, and Iraqi officials say Iran informed them, as well as other countries in the region, ahead of the attack.

“Our position is clear, and we will not allow Iraq to be thrown into the arena of conflict,” al-Sudani says in a statement.

Yesterday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said in an English-language statement that “over the weekend, Iran launched a large-scale attack on Israel. Over 350 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, armed drones and rockets were fired from Iranian soil — as well as Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon — towards the State of Israel.”

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