UPDATE: Iraqi Air Defense shoots down Turkish Drone in Kirkuk

Shafaq News/ Iraqi air defenses shot down a Turkish drone over Kirkuk on Thursday, causing material damage to a residential area but no casualties, according to military and security sources.

The incident unfolded at approximately 10:00 AM when the Iraqi Air Defense system detected the drone near Kiwan Camp, northwest of Kirkuk city. A security source in Kirkuk said that after the drone entered the northern and eastern airspace of the city, a warning was issued, following standard air defense protocol.

"At 10:25 AM, the French-made Pantsir air defense system shot down the drone." The security source said, "It crashed into a residential house in Kirkuk's Tese'in neighborhood, causing material damage but no injuries."

Brigadier General Abdul Salam Hamoudi Ramadan, Deputy Commander of Air Defense in the Northern Region, confirmed that the drone, which had entered Iraqi airspace from the direction of Al-Sulaymaniyah, was detected and targeted as it approached the Jimen area in central Kirkuk.

"Air defense units engaged the drone immediately after it breached Iraqi airspace," Ramadan told Shafaq News Agency. "It was destroyed as soon as it entered the target zone."

Eyewitnesses reported that the drone crashed near the main market complex adjacent to Airport Street following a loud explosion. Videos on social media showed the drone catching fire in the sky before burning entirely upon reaching the ground.

An examination of the debris identified the downed aircraft as a Turkish-made TAI Anka drone, the source said, adding that the parts have been transferred to a military site for further investigation.

The TAI Anka is a Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries for reconnaissance, surveillance, and attack missions. It is equipped with synthetic aperture radar, precision weapons, and satellite communication capabilities.

The source also noted that Turkish drones have had several encounters with Iraqi Air Defense around Kirkuk in the past, typically withdrawing after receiving warnings.

Turkiye did not comment on the incident.