U.S. Urges Iraq to Close Airspace to Iranian Cargo Flights Bound for Syria and Lebanon

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The United States has reportedly requested that the Iraqi government close its airspace to any flights from Iran heading to Syria and Lebanon.

Washington is concerned that these Iranian cargo flights are believed to be transporting advanced weaponry to the Hezbollah militant group in southern Lebanon.

However, the Iraqi government has yet to respond to the United States’ request.

The U.S. request comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, raising the possibility of war breaking out between the two sides at any moment.

The United States may want to assist Israel in preventing Iranian weapons from reaching Hezbollah if a conflict between these “traditional enemies” erupts.

 

Washington might anticipate that Hezbollah would face a shortage of weapons if it succeeds in cutting off the aerial supply routes to the militant group in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah, backed by Iran, receives most of its weapons from the government in Tehran, which supplies a range of advanced weaponry, including missiles and hundreds of thousands of rockets of various calibers.

Regional analysts suggest that in addition to using air routes to transport weapons from Iran to Lebanon, Iran is also alleged to use land routes, particularly from Syria to Lebanon, to deliver weapons to Hezbollah.

They claim that Iran has been assisting in the development of Hezbollah’s military capabilities since the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel.

Situated in a conflict-prone region, Iraq claims its airspace is frequently violated by various parties, including the United States, which has several military bases, its main ally Israel, and its neighbor Iran.

Israel often sends its fighter jets to strike pro-Iran militant positions and bases in Iraq.

 

Possibly “frustrated” by the U.S. and regional countries’ disregard for its airspace sovereignty, the Iraqi government has moved to strengthen its air defense systems.

 Recently, Iraq reportedly intends to acquire up to eight medium-range KM-SAM II air defense batteries from South Korea, valued at $2.5 billion (RM11.7 billion).

The acquisition of the KM-SAM II, also known as the “Korean Patriot,” is aimed at defending its airspace from foreign intrusion as regional tensions heighten due to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The medium-range KM-SAM II (Cheongung II) air defense system, developed by South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and built by LIG Nex1, features a unique blend of Western and Russian technology.

This system was developed with technical assistance from Russia’s Almaz-Antey, known for its S-300, S-400, and the latest S-500 air defense systems.

 

The KM-SAM II, to be acquired by Iraq, is inspired by Russia’s renowned Almaz-Antey air defense systems such as the S-300 and S-400.

 The KM-SAM’s 3D multifunction Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) X-Band radar can detect targets up to 100km away and track 40 targets simultaneously.

The medium-range KM-SAM can engage aerial targets at altitudes up to 15km (49,000 feet) and at a range of up to 40km. — DSA