Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell tried to play up the seriousness of the alleged Iranian drone shot down by US forces inside Iraqi airspace, declaring it to be one of “multiple methods of destabilizing the government in Iraq, of providing extremist groups with the means to attack our forces and Iraqi security forces.” The sentiment was echoed by some opposition members of Iraqi parliament too, yet the ruling party dismissed such concerns.

Taha Dara, an MP in the ruling United Iraqi List, declared it “was a normal day,” pointing out that “neighboring countries, notably Turkey, are constantly violating Iraqi airspace.”

The Turkish military has been using Israel-made drone aircrafts, with assistance from Israeli personnel, in their military operations in Iraqi Kurdistan. Turkish planes and drones launch regular airstrikes against rebel targets inside northern Iraq. Though the United States seems outraged by the Iranian drone entering less than 10 km into Iraqi airspace, they have rarely spoken out at the Turkish incursions.

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