Iraq suspects Israel targeted Chinese air defense weapons

Iraqi authorities have concluded that Israel likely orchestrated a series of recent strikes on locations where Iranian-backed militias stored advanced air defense systems. According to sources cited by the London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat on Saturday, the weapons involved were shoulder-fired systems of Chinese origin that Tehran had supplied to local armed groups. This assessment suggests a targeted effort to degrade the defensive capabilities of forces aligned with Iran within Iraqi territory.

The report details that the attacks occurred last week at two specific sites. One source indicated that the armed group responsible for selecting the storage locations believed the spots were difficult to detect or reach. The timing of the strikes, which happened shortly after the shipments arrived, supports the theory of a coordinated operation. While the newspaper did not identify the specific model of the system or provide definitive proof, it noted that parts of the claims remain unconfirmed.

These incidents appear to be part of a broader pattern of activity. A significant explosion took place on October 17 at a base of the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella organization that includes many Iranian-backed militias and serves as a paramilitary force for the Iraqi government. The PMF initially described the blast as an accident, but the newspaper reported that it hit a stockpile of obsolete ammunition in Baghdad's East Canal area, injuring five people. An anonymous Iraqi official confirmed that authorities were still investigating the circumstances, despite more than a week passing without a public update.

Other sources linked the mid-October blast to an earlier incident on October 1, when warehouses associated with Iran-backed groups in and around Baghdad were affected. These facilities reportedly held drones intended for suicide attacks and reconnaissance missions. A security official stated that while Iraqi authorities had not fully determined the nature of the strikes, the evidence available led them to believe Israel was responsible. This aligns with previous accusations, as Iraqi groups have previously blamed Israel for strikes in 2019 and for an attack near the Syrian border in Albukamal.

The strategic context involves long-standing efforts by Iran to arm Iraqi militias with missiles and drones capable of threatening Israel. Since the conflict with Hamas began in October 2023, these groups have carried out numerous attacks. Following the start of US and Israeli airstrikes in February, Iran has sought to turn Iraq into a frontline. The country has conducted over 1,000 strikes on the Kurdistan Region using drones and missiles, while Iran and allied militias have mounted 600 attacks across Iraq, some targeting US diplomatic sites.

The US withdrew its forces from Iraq on September 30, adhering to a deadline agreed upon with Baghdad over several years. Washington has since warned its citizens against traveling to Baghdad. The newspaper also connected these events to earlier reports of China supplying weapons to Iran, a link that remains unconfirmed. China's Foreign Ministry denied those reports on July 28. Additionally, an Iran-backed militia attacked Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline with a drone from Iraq's Maysan province, leading to the closure of that crossing amid pressure from the US and concerns about trafficking in Iraq.

Asharq Al-Awsat concluded that these strikes signal the beginning of a new round of conflict. A source in the Shi'ite Coordination Framework noted that ruling party leaders had spent weeks predicting that renewed war between Washington and Tehran would start with the total destruction of the Iraqi factions' capabilities. Most major groups in the PMF, excluding the Badr Organization, are sanctioned by the US as terrorist organizations. Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of militias that has attacked both Israel and the US, published a statement claiming that Iraqi airspace was being violated.