At a Glance

• The Iraqi PM chaired a high-level air defense meeting.
• Enhance military readiness to safeguard sovereign airspace.
• Officials reviewed specialized defense contracts with foreign firms.
• Leadership demanded accelerated equipment delivery to boost control.

The Iraqi Prime Minister chaired a high-level military meeting to review plans for building and developing national air defense capabilities to secure the country's sovereign airspace.

Key Statements and Focus Area

• The Iraqi PM Media Office said al-Zaidi and military officials “discussed the plan for building and developing air defense capabilities.”
• “The meeting also discussed contracts signed with foreign companies to equip the Air Defense Command with advanced specialized systems,” the office noted.

The Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces chaired the session on sunday, meeting with the Director of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Army Chief of Staff on Sunday.

Al-Zaidi and senior military leaders addressed strengthening defense readiness to safeguard Iraqi airspace and uphold national sovereignty.

The session also evaluated procurement contracts with international defense firms to supply the Air Defense Command with advanced, specialized systems.

Emphasis was placed on accelerating the execution and delivery of these contracts to “contribute to completing the air defense system and raising its capabilities to monitor and control Iraqi airspace.”

Officials emphasized accelerating the execution and delivery of these contracts to “contribute to completing the air defense system and raising its capabilities to monitor and control Iraqi airspace.”

Meanwhile, al-Zaidi conducted an operational inspection of the Air Defense Command Operations Center last week as Iraq prepares to assume full control of its airspace following the upcoming September 30 coalition withdrawal deadline.

During the visit, al-Zaidi declared national airspace and sovereignty strictly inviolable, affirming that a robust air defense serves as the foundation for independent political and military decision-making.

He further emphasized Iraq's regional non-aggression principle, stating that the country will not allow its territory or skies to be utilized as a launching pad for attacks against neighboring nations.

FYI

The high-level military session chaired by al-Zaidi directly addresses the vulnerability of Iraqi airspace, which has transformed into an active operational corridor for foreign forces during recent regional hostilities. 

Following the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran on February 28, 2026, Iraqi skies were severely compromised as multiple international actors deployed fighter jets, ballistic missiles, and drones across the territory.

This continuous violation of sovereignty led the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority to repeatedly close the country's airspace to all commercial overflights. 

The situation exposed a critical technical and political blind spot: Baghdad's fragmented radar network left the country incapable of tracking or intercepting hostile projectiles moving through its own skies.

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