Baghdad: Iraq's National Security Service has successfully thwarted an attempt to manufacture drones in the capital city of Baghdad. The operation led to the arrest of three suspects, as reported by the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA).

According to Anadolu Agency, the National Security Service's statement revealed that the suspects were apprehended in connection with the effort to produce unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) within Baghdad. However, further details regarding the suspects or the intended use of the drones have not been disclosed.

In a related development, Sabah al-Numan, spokesman for the commander-in-chief of Iraq's armed forces, confirmed on Thursday that the mission of the international coalition in Iraq will conclude as planned on September 30. The US-led coalition was established in 2014 to combat ISIS, which had seized significant territories in Iraq and Syria at the time. Iraq announced in 2017 that it had fully reclaimed its territory from ISIS, although the group has continued to launch sporadic attacks.

Numan, while speaking to INA, emphasized that the Iraqi government is committed to regulating the issue of weapons within the country. This news emerges amid increasing regional tensions and follows discussions between Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan, who both underscored the importance of containing escalation and resolving disputes peacefully.

In a related incident, Saudi Arabia announced on July 27 that it had intercepted and destroyed several drones launched from Iraqi territory. These drones attempted to target oil facilities in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province and the capital, Riyadh. Riyadh attributed the attacks to 'Iranian-affiliated militias' and affirmed its right to respond.