Iraq to equip federal interior ministry with anti-drone systems: Minister

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari announced on Wednesday that the government has signed a contract to supply the federal interior ministry with advanced anti-drone systems to protect key institutions of the ministry, adding that the Kurdistan Region will not be included in the measure. The move comes amid ongoing regional instability.

Speaking to Rudaw, Shammari said that they "have signed a contract with the Iraqi Military Industrialization Board to provide several advanced anti-drone defense systems."

The agreement follows a decision by the Iraqi Council of Ministers on March 10, authorizing the Ministry of Interior to proceed with the contract to strengthen defenses against drone threats.

Shammari explained that the system is intended "to protect vital institutions belonging to the Ministry of Interior" from potential aerial attacks. However, he stressed that "the system does not include institutions in the Kurdistan Region," contradicting earlier remarks by Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, who had indicated the systems would also cover the Region.

Shammari’s remarks come amid heightened tensions and a surge in drone and missile attacks by Iran and Iran-aligned armed groups in Iraq targeting US interests in the country, including the Kurdistan Region, which they said were carried out in response to US and Israeli strikes.

The US and Israel launched a preemptive air campaign against Iran on February 28, targeting more than 17,000 sites across the country over six weeks of hostilities before the sides agreed to a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire on April 8. The truce, halted fighting for two weeks and paved the way for talks, was unilaterally extended by US President Donald Trump on April 21.

According to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), at least 809 drones and missiles targeted the Region between February 28 and April 20, showing that Tehran continued targeting the Region despite the truce.

The federal interior minister added that responsibility for providing air defense systems to the Kurdistan Region lies with the Ministry of Defense.

“Despite the neutral stance adopted by the Kurdistan Region, it nonetheless suffered 20 martyrs,” the KRG’s Department of Media and Information said last week, adding that 121 people were injured and significant material damage was recorded.

The KRG has accused Iran-backed armed factions in Iraq of carrying out many of the attacks “on different and unfounded pretexts,” and has repeatedly called on Baghdad to investigate these “terrorist acts” and hold those responsible accountable.

Addressing border security, Shammari described Iraq’s frontiers as stable, noting that they are "extremely stable," and specifically emphasized that along the Iranian border "no border violations of any kind have been recorded."

Malik Mohammed contributed to this report from Erbil, Kurdistan Region.