Israel Suspected of Striking Weapons Depots in Iraq Holding Chinese Missiles

Israel is suspected of carrying out airstrikes last week on two weapons depots in Iraq that stored Chinese-made shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, according to a report published Saturday by the Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat, citing Iraqi sources. The strikes reportedly destroyed a major shipment of air defense systems shortly after their arrival at the two sites.

An Iraqi security official told the newspaper that authorities in Baghdad have grounds to suspect Israel is responsible for the attacks, though it remains unclear how they were carried out. Concurrently, an Iraqi government official clarified that there is still no definitive intelligence identifying the perpetrator.

Iraqi authorities are investigating whether the warehouse strikes are part of a joint US-Israeli preparation for a renewed confrontation with Iran. According to an assessment attributed to intelligence circles in the country, operations may already be underway within its territory to target militia supply lines and curtail their combat capabilities.

Against this backdrop, a Financial Times report published this week stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed for renewed strikes in Iran, prompting the IDF to prepare for a multi-day bombing campaign. The plan, which targeted nuclear facilities, infrastructure, and regime-linked sites, was ultimately shelved due to opposition from US President Donald Trump.

According to the same report, Israel presented Washington with an updated target bank based on fresh intelligence, encompassing previously untouched infrastructure. Meanwhile, Fox News reported on a drill involving Israeli fighter jets flying over Syria and Iraq toward Iran, though no direct link has been established between these military preparations and the strikes on the Iraqi weapons depots.