Iraq Shoots Down Turkish Drone Over Kirkuk


TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iraqi military officials announced on Thursday that their air defense units intercepted and downed a Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle in the skies above Kirkuk, a city known for its rich oil resources.

Brigadier General Abdul Salam, deputy commander of the Iraqi air defense, informed reporters that the drone entered Iraqi airspace from the direction of Sulaymaniyah.

He confirmed that the Iraqi Air Force successfully shot down the Turkish drone in the Chiman area of Kirkuk.

The Iraqi Air Force issued a statement explaining that the drone was warned according to protocol before being downed by air defenses.

The statement also mentioned that the drone crashed into a civilian house, resulting in material damage only.

"Based on the inspection of the wreckage parts of the drone, it was identified as a Turkish model," the statement added.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli stated that Turkish and Iraqi authorities are coordinating efforts to clarify the incident.

Keceli reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to combating terrorism, stressing the importance of cooperation between Turkey and Iraq.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Keceli emphasized the collaboration between the two countries in fighting terrorism, including Iraq's decision to designate the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as a banned organization.

"Both countries are determined for this cooperation to yield concrete results on the ground and for the coordination between the competent authorities to be increased," Keceli wrote.

Turkey frequently conducts ground and air strikes against what it identifies as PKK positions in northern Iraq.

Baghdad has summoned Ankara’s envoy multiple times to protest these operations.

The PKK, a Kurdish militant group, has been engaged in a long-standing conflict with Turkey, seeking autonomy.

Turkey’s military operations against PKK hideouts extend beyond its borders into northern Iraq and Syria.

The conflict between Turkey and the militant group, which has spanned over three decades, has resulted in more than 40,000 deaths.