Drone shot down over Iraq's Ain Al-Asad air base, accounts conflict

Drone shot down over Iraq's Ain Al-Asad air base, accounts conflict
The US-led international military coalition said in a statement that it had conducted 'an operational exercise… that involved engaging an Unmanned Aerial System' at Iraq's Ain Al-Asad air base as part of a training exercise.
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Iraqi military sources suggested the drone may have had hostile intent [Ethan Miller/Getty-file photo]

Defence systems at Iraq's Ain Al-Asad air base, which hosts American forces, shot down a drone near the base on Sunday, with Iraqi military sources and the US-led international military coalition offering conflicting accounts of the incident.

The US-led international military coalition said in a statement that it had conducted "an operational exercise… that involved engaging an Unmanned Aerial System" at Ain Al-Asad base as part of a training exercise.

However, the Iraqi military sources suggested the drone may have had hostile intent, saying it was not clear whether it was on a surveillance mission or if it was carrying any explosives.

MENA
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No damages or casualties were reported, the sources added.

The mission of the international military coalition is to fight Islamic State militants in Iraq and in Syria.

(Reuters)