Iraq protests to UN over Israel's violation of its airspace during attack on Iran

The Iraqi government has issued a formal note of protest to the UN secretary-general and the UN Security Council regarding Israeli aircraft's violation of its airspace during a recent operation aimed at Iran.

The Iraqi government condemned the "flagrant violation committed by the Zionist entity" against Iraq's airspace and sovereignty, Caliber.Az reports referring to foreign media.

The statement further noted that this incident involved the use of Iraqi airspace to conduct an attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran on October 26.

"Iraq does not permit its airspace or territory to be used for attacks on other nations, particularly neighbouring countries with which Iraq maintains good relations and mutual interests," the government emphasized.

On October 26, Israel openly attacked Iran for the first time, marking a direct confrontation between the regional rivals and heightening the risk of a broader conflict in the Middle East.

Israel said the attack was a retaliation for Iran's attack on Israel on October 1, which Iran claimed was an act of "self-defence" in retaliation for Israel's assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and IRGC general Abbas Nilforoushan.

Iran, while acknowledging the strikes that resulted in the deaths of four soldiers, has indicated it will respond "appropriately" but does not seek war.

The Israeli operation, codenamed Days of Repentance, was designed to weaken Iran's capacity to launch attacks against Israel while increasing its vulnerability to future strikes. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) focused on air defence, radar sites, and long-range missile production facilities, employing over 100 jets and drones in two waves of attacks.

Thus, the first phase targeted air defence systems in Syria and Iraq, preventing Iranian allies from intercepting Israeli aircraft. Within Iran, the strikes aimed to incapacitate air defence systems designed to protect significant sites, including the Abadan oil refinery and the Bandar Imam Khomeini petrochemical complex. 

Three Russian-made S-300 air defence systems near Tehran and military bases at Parchin and Parand were also hit, with social media videos showing damage to a facility producing machinery for the oil and gas industry.

By Aghakazim Guliyev