Suspected airstrikes targeting Chinese-made air defence systems and drone warehouses in Baghdad suggest that a new phase of the US-Israeli conflict may have begun on Iraqi soil, as local authorities investigate explosions involving weapons transferred from Iran.

Suspected airstrikes targeting Chinese-made air defence systems and drone warehouses in Baghdad suggest that a new phase of the US-Israeli conflict may have begun on Iraqi soil, as local authorities investigate explosions involving weapons transferred from Iran.

Suspected airstrikes targeting Chinese-made air defence systems and drone warehouses in Baghdad suggest that a new phase of the US-Israeli conflict may have begun on Iraqi soil, as local authorities investigate explosions involving weapons transferred from Iran.

The second phase of the US-Israeli war may already have begun. Amid threats from Washington that fresh airstrikes against Iran could come as early as Sunday, a report claims it has already begun, but on Iraqi soil.

Baghdad suspects that two sites storing Chinese-made man-portable air defence systems were targeted in airstrikes last week, London-based newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat quoted unnamed sources. On October 17, the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) announced it had contained a fire caused by an explosion at a stockpile of damaged ammunition inside one of its facilities in the East Canal area of Baghdad. Though it has been over a week, the findings of the investigation are yet to be announced.

Sources told the newspaper that the two sites suspected of having come under attack had a large shipment of Chinese weapons that had recently arrived from Iran and had been transferred to Iraqi factions loyal to Tehran. One source explained that "the armed faction that selected the site to store the air defence systems believed it would be extremely difficult to access or detect."

The suspected attack occurred shortly after the shipments arrived at the two storage sites. The explosion followed a series of blasts that began on October 1 and targeted warehouses belonging to armed factions in various areas around Baghdad. These warehouses were storing drones designed for suicide attacks and reconnaissance. Several armed factions have been actively transferring advanced air defence systems and drones from Iran to Iraq over the past few weeks and storing them at facilities under their control, the newspaper added.

Unconfirmed reports suggested secret shipments from China to Iran included heat-seeking man-portable air defence systems designed to counter low-flying aircraft, including helicopters and drones.

Interestingly, dozens of Israeli fighters flew through Syrian and Iraqi airspace toward the border with Iran last week. Besides fighter jets, refuelling aircraft were involved. There were unconfirmed reports of additional major Israeli military air activity on Wednesday night. Washington was aware of the operation, which the IDF called a training exercise intended for "power projection" and aimed at deterring Iran from launching attacks against Israel ahead of the elections.

Analysts believe the commotion over Iraq was likely practice runs and would be part of the prelude to any major new air operation targeting Iran.

But a security official told Asharq Al-Awsat that authorities in Baghdad had sufficient grounds to believe Israel was behind the strikes on the warehouses, although they had yet to determine how the attacks were conducted. The government was focused on investigating the incident because of the extensive damage inflicted on the two sites and surrounding areas. It, however, has yet to obtain conclusive information identifying those responsible for the attack.

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