Iraq considering air defense options, including Russia’s S-400: defense ministry

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraq is currently exploring options to reinforce its air defenses, Iraq’s Defense Ministry spokesman told Rudaw on Thursday, including Russia’s S-400 missile system, which could create problems for Baghdad’s relationship with the US.

After recent airstrikes targetting the bases and weapons depots of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), also known as Hashd al-Shaabi in Arabic, Baghdad has stepped up efforts to improve its air defense systems.

The explosions were initially attributed to negligent weapons storage in Iraq’s scorching summer temperatures. However, blame soon turned to Israel, which is concerned about the Iran-backed PMF’s presence. 

Israel has launched regular strikes against Iranian targets in Syria, fearing Iran is using proxies there and in Iraq to move heavy weapons close to its border. 

Major General Tahsin Khafaji, the Iraqi Defense Ministry’s spokesman, told Rudaw on Thursday that Iraq has received offers from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Russia to install a new air defense system.

“A number of countries are ready to develop Iraq’s air defense system,” Khafaji said. “UK, US, France and Russia are on the line to supply Iraq with developed air defense systems.”

Khafaji also said Iraq is yet to discount any of these offers and is still examining the most suitable system for Iraq’s security needs.

The almost entirely Shiite PMF paramilitaries were formed in 2014 based on a fatwa (religious decree) by Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s highest Shiite religious authority, when the Islamic State group (ISIS) seemed poised to march on Baghdad.

Although many PMF fighters are non-aligned individuals who responded to Sistani’s call, many others are part of Iran-backed militias who fought US forces during its occupation of Iraq after 2003. 

Several PMF commanders are now influential members of the Iraqi parliament. Many of them are now among the loudest voices calling for improvements to Iraq’s air defenses.

Mansour al-Bieji, a pro-PMF member of the State of Law Coalition, said on September 11 that Iraq is keen on the Russian S-400 – a highly sophisticated missile defense system capable of tracking and destroying modern fighter jets and drones over vast distances. 

However, some Iraqi lawmakers have warned the government not to pursue the Russian option, pointing out America’s threat of sanctions on Turkey for its purchase of the S-400 – a major rival to its own Patriot system.

Others have fired back, claiming the US system failed to protect Saudi Arabia’s oil installations from drone and missile attack earlier this month.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was also quick to seize upon the Saudi attack, claiming Moscow is ready and willing to provide air defense systems to Riyadh and other regional powers. 

Nasir Harki, a Kurdish member of the Iraqi parliament’s security committee, believes Iraq is leaning toward the Russian option.

“In the recent meeting between the security committee in the Iraqi parliament and the National Security Advisor and head of PMF, Falih al-Fayyadh, he informed the committee that soon a delegation from  Baghdad will visit Russia to discuss purchasing the Russian air defense system,” Harki told Rudaw.

Responding to a Rudaw question at a lecture in the Russian capital last week, Iraq’s ambassador to Moscow Haider Mansour Hadi downplayed Baghdad’s interest in the S-400, claiming it was not currently an option on the table. 

If Iraq does press ahead with the Russian option, Baghdad could find itself in deep trouble with its US allies.

Turkey’s recent purchase of the Russian system caused outrage among Ankara’s NATO allies in Washington. The Americans fear the deployment of the S-400 could expose sensitive information about its new F-35 fighter jets, which Turkey helped develop, leaving them vulnerable to attack.