Iraq downs Turkish Aksungur Drone near Kirkuk — Unraveling details
A photo collage of the incident that occured in Kirkuk, Iraq, resulting downing of a Turkish Aksungur UAV. (Collage via Türkiye Today)
A Turkish Aksungur armed drone was shot down in the city of Iraq’s Kirkuk Thursday morning, sparking immediate diplomatic activity between Ankara and Baghdad.
The Iraqi military confirmed the downing of a Turkish armed drone near the city of Kirkuk.
The incident marks a significant moment in the improving relations between Iraq and Türkiye, particularly in the context of their recent cooperation against PKK/YPG terrorism in the region and the development road project.
‘Raising diplomatic concerns’
Major General Saleh Haraz, the Kirkuk Operations Commander, announced earlier on Thursday that the Iraqi army successfully shot down an unidentified object, which was later identified as a Turkish drone.
According to reports, the drone was flying at a medium altitude over five major cities in Kirkuk province before approaching sensitive sites, including Iraqi security bases.
Brigadier General Abdulsalam Hamoudi Ramadan, the Deputy Commander of Air Defense in the northern region, said in the incident area that the drone was coming from the direction of Sulaymaniyah and was detected by Iraqi air defense sectors.
“After entering the target range, the drone was shot down by the air defense personnel,” he told Shafaq News Agency.
“It was brought down after violating Iraqi airspace.”
A security source in Kirkuk provided more details, stating that the Turkish drone, identified as a “Aksungur” model, was intercepted by the Russian Pantsir air defense system at 10:25 a.m. after it ignored warnings and continued its approach toward Kirkuk.
The drone was shot down over the “Jimem” area in central Kirkuk, causing material damage as it crashed into a residential house in the “Hay Tasnin” neighborhood according to the Iraqi sources.
There were no injuries reported, but parts of the drone were scattered over two different locations in the city.
Turkish-Iraqi relations tested by drone incident
This incident is particularly significant as it follows the recent signing of a major security deal between Türkiye and Iraq aimed at enhancing cooperation against PKK/YPG terrorism in the region.
The agreement, described as groundbreaking, includes the establishment of a joint security coordination center in Baghdad and the transfer of a Turkish base in Bashiqa to the Iraqi Armed Forces.
However, the Iraqi decision to down a Turkish drone has raised concern, especially given Türkiye’s ongoing military operations targeting terrorist organization PKK/YPG elements in northern Iraq.
Iraq Joint Operations Command confirmed the incident
In a statement that was released on X, the Iraqi Joint Operations Command confirmed the incident of drowning a Turkish drone over Kirkuk, Iraq.
At 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 29, 2024, the Iraqi Air Defense detected a drone within the Kirkuk Operations Command sector. After tracking it, determining its route, and its arrival at the center of Kirkuk city, which contains government headquarters, important economic centers, and vital targets, all security agencies, as well as the International Coalition Forces, inquired about the ownership of this aircraft, and it turned out that it was an unknown aircraft.
At 10:30 a.m. the plane was observed to have crashed inside the city, and it turned out to be a Turkish drone. A technical team was formed from forensic evidence, air defense, and drone crews to determine the causes of the crash and the circumstances of the accident. We will provide you with the details later.
Iraq Joint Operations Command
Allegedly Kirkuk Operations Commander detained, faces military court
In a related development, a Turkish journalist Levent Kemal said on X that Brigadier General Abdulsalam Hamoudi Ramadan, the Kirkuk Operations Commander, has been detained and brought to Baghdad. The general is reportedly expected to be referred to a military court, highlighting the serious nature of the incident and its potential consequences.
Turkish journalist Levent Kemal later clarified that Iraqi Brigadier General Abdulsalam Hamoudi Ramadan had not been arrested. He also said the general would not be charged with shooting down the Turkish drone.
Joint investigation underway after drone downing
Iraqi authorities have formed a technical team to investigate the circumstances surrounding the downing of the drone. The investigation will involve forensic experts, air defense personnel, and drone specialists to determine the exact sequence of events and the reasons behind the incident.
Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Öncü Keçeli also said, “Coordination has been established with Iraqi authorities to shed light on all the details of the incident.”
Impact on Turkish-Iraqi security cooperation following incident
The city of Kirkuk, which hosts a significant Turkish minority, has been a focal point of interest for Ankara.
Earlier this month, Turkish diplomatic sources criticized the Iraqi government for the election of a new governor associated with the PUK, a party that closely aligned with the PKK.
In the aftermath of the crash, Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yılmaz met with Hasan Turan, the President of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, and Ersat Salihi, a member of the Iraqi Parliament representing Kirkuk.
The discussions, held in Ankara, focused on the recent developments in Kirkuk. The Turkish Foreign Ministry reiterated its ongoing support for the Turkmen community in Iraq, stating, “Türkiye will continue to support the Iraqi Turkmens.”
In a related political development, Turkmen representatives in the Kirkuk Provincial Council boycotted a recent council meeting due to a controversial governor election.
