Iraq: Drone Shot Down Near Erbil Airport Where U.S. Troops Are Stationed

An unmanned aerial drone was shot down on Thursday night (03.07.2025) near an airport where U.S. military forces are stationed in northern Iraq. The incident occurred near the international airport in Erbil, located in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, according to Kurdish security forces. The Kurdish counter-terrorism services reported that at 9:58 PM local time, a drone loaded with explosives was intercepted and brought down close to Erbil International Airport without causing casualties or damage. Earlier that evening, Rudaw released closed-circuit television footage showing the moment the drone crashed into a village near the airport. No reports of injuries or structural damage were recorded. Lawand Mamundi, CEO of Erbil Fly, confirmed to Rudaw that none of his company’s flights were canceled as a result of the event.