Israel intercepts drones, missiles from Iraq

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has reported multiple aerial threats over the weekend, including heavy rocket barrages from Hezbollah in Lebanon and drone attacks from Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.

On the morning of September 22, air raid sirens were activated in the southern Golan Heights, prompting the IDF to intercept a suspicious aerial target originating from the east, Caliber.Az reports per Israeli media.

Concerns over falling interceptor fragments led to the activation of alarms, but no damage or casualties were reported.

“Following the sirens that sounded in the area of the southern Golan Heights, multiple suspicious aerial targets approached Israel from the direction of Iraq. The targets were intercepted, and no injuries were reported. The targets did not cross into Israeli territory; sirens sounded according to protocol,” the IDF said.

Shortly after this interception, the Iran-backed militia known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for targeting an IDF base in northern Israel. Earlier that morning, the IDF had successfully downed two cruise missiles also launched from Iraq, which were intercepted outside of Israeli airspace.

The situation intensified with the IDF announcing the interception of another drone aimed at Israel’s southern Arava region later on September 22.

“Following the hostile aircraft infiltration sirens that sounded in the Arava area, a suspicious aerial target was identified approaching Israeli territory from the east. The target was intercepted, and no injuries were reported. The target did not cross into the territory of the country; sirens were activated according to protocol,” an IDF spokesperson remarked.

Adding to the tension, Saudi news channel al-Hadath reported that the “suspicious aerial target” intercepted by Israel was a ballistic missile fired at Eilat from Iraq by Iranian-backed groups.

As hostilities escalate, the region remains on high alert, with Israeli forces prepared for further potential threats from across its borders.

By Khagan Isayev