Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi has vowed to take a "decisive" response to the shelling of Baghdad International Airport, deeming it "a dangerous operation backed by agendas that do not wish Iraq well." Al-Kadhimi stated in a statement on Friday that "Baghdad International Airport came under a cowardly terrorist act early today that reveals the criminals' insistence on threatening the security of the Iraqi people, its commitments, and its capabilities, endangering its interests."
Al-Kadhimi considered "the targeting of Baghdad International Airport with missiles, the injury of civilian aircraft, and the damage to the airport's runway as a new attempt to undermine Iraq's reputation, which we have worked hard to restore regionally and internationally. This endangers international aviation standards at Iraqi airports and spreads an atmosphere of doubt about internal security, as Baghdad International Airport is one of the country's gateways, in addition to compromising the efforts of Iraqi Airways to develop its operations and operate Iraqi aircraft in all global airspaces."
**Direct Attack on Iraq's Sovereignty**
Meanwhile, Mohammad al-Halbousi, the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, stated that the attack on Baghdad Airport represents a direct assault on Iraq's sovereignty. The Iraqi Security Media Cell announced details of the attack on Baghdad International Airport, specifying that the perpetrators belong to the terrorist organization ISIS and confirming that important clues have been identified regarding the perpetrators for their arrest and the necessary legal measures against them to bring them to justice.
In a statement from the Iraqi Security Media Cell via their official Twitter page, it was reported that "ISIS criminal gangs targeted Baghdad International Airport with six Katyusha-type rockets early today in an attempt to strike the country's capabilities." The rockets fell in an area designated for Iraqi Airways aircraft, causing damage to two planes that were grounded on the runway.
The Security Media Cell emphasized that this terrorist act aims to undermine the efforts of the Iraqi government in restoring Iraq's regional role and hampering the activities of Iraqi Airways in becoming a leader in the field of transportation and air navigation while raising challenges to its operations.
**Discovery of the Targeting Site**
The cell confirmed that three rockets were found on a launch platform in Abu Ghraib, near an open sewage area, and that military units managed to deactivate them. Furthermore, the Iraqi Security Media Cell stated that important clues have been identified about the suspects for their arrest and the necessary legal actions against them to bring them to justice. The criminal units collected fingerprints and secured evidence from the scene of the incident.
**Circumstances Surrounding the Targeting**
An Al-Arabiya correspondent in Iraq reported that investigations are ongoing at Baghdad International Airport to clarify the circumstances surrounding the targeting. The UN mission has expressed concern regarding the attacks in Iraq, including the recent missile attack on Baghdad Airport. The UN mission in Iraq stated, "Groups behind the attacks must not escape punishment," noting that these groups act recklessly and endanger the country.
Sources from Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath revealed details about the attack on Baghdad International Airport early today. They reported that "six rockets targeted Baghdad International Airport from a total of nine rockets, all launched at around 4:30 AM today." They added that "the rockets, launched from the Nismai area west of Baghdad, were transported in a vehicle carrying boxes of vegetables and fruits, which contained the launch platform. The launch came from an area surrounded by al-Hashd al-Shaabi Brigade (27) affiliated with the Badr Organization."
The sources indicated that "the vehicle contained a launch platform with nine barrels at the rear of the vehicle, type (FAW - 1 ton), which was modified and difficult to detect due to the platform's flat design." They continued, "the concealed platform in the vehicle is raised only at the time of launching the rockets and cannot be detected at checkpoints."
An security source reported that "on Friday, Baghdad International Airport was targeted with six rockets," indicating that "the rockets aimed at the airport fell near the runway and the civilian side of the building." The report stated that damage was inflicted on an aircraft and facilities due to the rocket launch on Baghdad airport, noting that the aircraft was out of service. The activation of the missile defense system intercepted several rockets in the airport's vicinity. "Al-Sumaria News" reported that security sources confirmed that damage occurred to several civilian aircraft at Baghdad International Airport.
Additionally, the source reported that the American Victoria base at Baghdad International Airport was attacked by a drone. The source stated that "the Victoria base at Baghdad International Airport was targeted at 4 AM today by a drone, but the C-RAM defense system managed to intercept it before reaching its target."
