US drone shot down in western Iraq

Parts of the wreckage of a drone are laid out on the ground near the Ain al-Asad Air Base in the western Iraqi province of Anbar, January 4, 2022. Photo: International Coalition via AP Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – An unknown drone, first claimed by Iranian official media IRIB as a US surveillance one, crashed within a residential complex near the Haditha Dam in the western Iraqi province of Anbar. Iraqi police and security agencies later indicated that the drone’s origin remains unknown, according to Al-Jazeera. The debris was discovered blazing in a residential compound near the Haditha Dam in Anbar. Local police stated that there were no recorded injuries or civilian deaths as a result of the collision. Iranian state media swiftly released images of the smoking debris, claiming it was a US drone shot down amid broader regional activity. The incident took place during a night of broad military conflict in Iraq, which included many drone attacks and defensive responses. At least four Iranian drones attacked targets northeast of the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, Erbil, sparking a huge defensive reaction, including over ten US jets and drones sent to inspect the skies. Air defense systems were activated at Anbar’s Ain al-Asad Air Base in response to a drone strike. Explosions, alleged suicide drones, and radar interruptions were also reported at Camp Taji, Balad Air Base, and Imam Ali Base in southern Iraq. The US military has not publicly verified the loss of any aircraft in Anbar. Investigations into the model and operator of the crashed drone are still underway.