The Iraqi Armed Forces have intensified efforts to secure the nation’s airspace following reports that Israel may plan retaliatory strikes against Iraq in response to recent attacks by Iranian-backed militia groups. Lieutenant General Yehia Rasool, spokesperson for the Iraqi Armed Forces General Command, announced on Saturday that comprehensive measures have been taken to protect Iraqi airspace.

“We have implemented all necessary measures to secure Iraqi airspace,” Rasool said in a statement. However, he acknowledged that despite their efforts, there remain uncertainties about how fully the airspace can be protected. “Although we are making every effort to monitor our country's airspace, we are still not sure how much we can protect it,” he added.

Rasool highlighted that the Iraqi government, under Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, has prioritized enhancing air defense capabilities. As part of this initiative, Iraq signed an agreement with South Korea earlier this year to acquire advanced air defense systems. “Now, it takes time to complete and operate advanced air defense systems,” Rasool explained.

The spokesperson also noted that Iraq has the capacity to monitor its airspace and track aircraft, but emphasized that the situation is still precarious. “Although all measures have been taken to protect Iraqi airspace, it is still not completely safe,” he said.

The enhanced security measures follow an incident reported by the Israeli military on Friday, in which two Israeli soldiers were killed and 24 others wounded in a drone attack originating from Iraq. In response, Israeli officials confirmed that they are planning retaliatory strikes against targets in Iraq linked to the attacks.

As part of Iraq's strategy to bolster its defense, Rasool mentioned the integration of advanced Korean X-16 and K-50 aircraft, alongside surveillance and cargo planes, which will improve the capabilities of the Iraqi Air Force in securing the country’s airspace.

With rising tensions between Israel and Iranian-backed militia groups, Iraq remains on high alert, aiming to safeguard its airspace and national security.