Iraq expects to receive its new KM-SAM medium-range air defense systems from South Korea by early 2026 and has warned it will not allow Israel to use its airspace to strike Iran again.
In September, the Iraqi army announced it would deploy the KM-SAM systems at the start of next year — a major upgrade from its current short- and medium-range Avenger and Pantsir-S1 systems. Shortly after, Iraq’s National Security Advisor Qassem al-Araji declared that Baghdad would ensure Israel could not use Iraqi airspace in any future air war against Iran.
During the 12-day war with Iran in June, Israeli fighter jets repeatedly flew through Iraqi airspace. On June 20, Iraq filed a complaint to the UN claiming 50 Israeli aircraft had violated its skies that day.
If another Israel-Iran war breaks out after Iraq receives the KM-SAMs, Baghdad would, in theory, have a far greater ability to target Israeli aircraft operating overhead.