Drone found in Iraq’s northern town as Israel-Iran conflict intensifies

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An explosive-laden drone was found in Nineveh province’s Kurdish-majority Makhmour district on Thursday and was later detonated by locals. The origin of the unmanned aerial vehicle remains unclear but the development comes amid an escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.

“Today when a farmer went to his land in Azi Kand village on the border of Qaraj sub-district, he saw the drone that had fallen on his land,” Sherwan Dubardani, a Kurdish lawmaker representing Nineveh in the Iraqi parliament, told Rudaw.

He added the drone crashed due to a technical problem and was not shot down. Its origin remains unknown, and security forces have launched an investigation.

Rashad Galali, a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) official in the area, said the drone fell near the main road between Makhmour and Qaraj, about six kilometers from the center of the district. A unit from the Iraqi army later took the drone. Hours later, the drone was detonated.

The incident comes as the Israel-Iran conflict entered its seventh day. Iran on Thursday launched a missile strike targeting Soroka Medical Center, the largest hospital in southern Israel. Tens of people were injured. Israel has vowed a strong retaliation.

The conflict erupted on Friday after Israeli airstrikes killed several senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. In response, Iran has launched multiple waves of missile and drone attacks against Israeli targets.

Another drone crashed in Sulaimani province’s Dukan district on Thursday, announced the district mayor. Security forces were dispatched to the site after the incident was reported. No damage or casualties were caused by the incident, and authorities have not yet determined the origin of the aircraft.

On Wednesday, the Erbil-based Directorate General of Counter Terrorism (CTD) said a suicide drone was downed in southern Erbil, without disclosing who was responsible for intercepting it. Several suspected drones have reportedly been downed over Erbil since the escalation began.

Iraq has expressed deep concern that the worsening hostilities could spill over and undermine its sovereignty and fragile stability. The country hosts both US forces and Iran-backed armed groups, placing it in a precarious position if regional tensions continue to rise. Kurdish authorities have called for a peaceful solution to Iran-Israel and emphasized that the Kurdistan Region wants to be a factor or peace to its neighbors rather than a threat.

Although pro-Iran groups and politicians in Iraq have largely been silent, some have recently condemned Israel for the ongoing conflict. On Tuesday, supporters of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) staged demonstrations in Nineveh province in solidarity with Iran and condemned the Israeli strikes. PMF includes several pro-Iran militia groups.