Iraq has begun the destruction of banned Al-Samoud 2 missiles at one of its military facilities outside Baghdad since Saturday. Iraqi officials state that they are destroying four Al-Samoud 2 missiles to comply with a deadline set by the United Nations. It is believed that Iraq possesses at least one hundred missiles that exceed the 150-kilometer range limit established by the UN. A group of UN weapons inspectors visited Al-Taji, one of Iraq's military facilities located 30 kilometers north of Baghdad, to monitor the operations carried out by Iraqi officials on Saturday. Hans Blix, the head of the inspection team, stated that the destruction of all Al-Samoud 2 missiles would be a significant step towards disarmament in Iraq. A senior UN weapons inspector confirmed that Iraq has started the destruction of the banned Al-Samoud 2 missiles. Dimitri Perricos mentioned that one missile was destroyed this afternoon at a military base on the outskirts of Baghdad after a several-hour delay, the cause of which has not yet been explained. The United States has threatened to take the lead of a military coalition to disarm Iraq if it refuses to voluntarily destroy its weapons of mass destruction.
Iraq Begins Destruction of Al-Samoud 2 Missiles at Military Facility
Iraq has started destroying banned Al-Samoud 2 missiles to meet a UN deadline, monitored by international inspectors. This action is significant as it reflects Iraq's compliance with disarmament efforts amidst threats from the U.S. regarding military intervention.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Iraq has started the destruction of four banned Al-Samoud 2 missiles to comply with a UN deadline, monitored by international inspectors. This action is part of Iraq's efforts to demonstrate compliance with disarmament obligations.
- Iraq possesses at least one hundred missiles exceeding the UN's 150-kilometer range limit.
- The destruction is being monitored by UN weapons inspectors to ensure compliance.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Al-Samoud 2 missiles were banned due to their range capabilities, which posed a threat to regional stability. Iraq's disarmament is a key issue following the Gulf War and ongoing international scrutiny.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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