Between 23:20 and 23:55 on 12 August, four faction-linked channels carried Commander-in-Chief Ali Falih al-Zaidi's night visit to the Air Defense Command operations center and his directive to meet all air-defense requirements and raise combat and technological levels, with Al-Ahad TV adding that he reviewed a 2026-2031 capability-building plan. Watan TV (Badr Organization — affiliated) was the only one of the four to also carry his statements that Iraq's skies and sovereignty will not be violated by any party and that Iraq will not allow its territory or airspace to be a launching point for any attack on neighbouring states. Al-Ghadeer TV (Badr Organization — official), Al-Ahad TV (AAH — official) and iNEWS (KSS — affiliated) carried the capability lines without the neighbours pledge.
- Al-Ghadeer TVBadr Organization — official owned media13 Aug, 02:20
“The Commander-in-Chief directs that all air-defense requirements and needs be met, that its combat and technological levels be raised, and that what is necessary be provided to build an advanced system capable of protecting Iraqi airspace.”
القائد العام يوجه بتلبية جميع المتطلبات والاحتياجات الخاصة بالدفاع الجوي، والارتقاء بمستوياته القتالية والتكنولوجية وتوفير ما يلزم لبناء منظومة متطورة وقادرة على حماية الأجواء العراقية
- Al-Ahad TVAAH — official owned media13 Aug, 02:21
“Al-Zaidi directs that all air-defense requirements be met and its combat and technological levels raised.”
الزيدي يوجه بتلبية جميع متطلبات الدفاع الجوي والارتقاء بمستوياته القتالية والتكنولوجية
- Watan TVBadr Organization — affiliated/aligned media13 Aug, 02:22
“The Commander-in-Chief: while Iraq works to protect national security and sovereignty, it will not allow its territory or airspace to be a launching point for any attack on neighbouring states.”
القائد العام: العراق في الوقت الذي يعمل فيه على حماية الأمن والسيادة الوطنية لن يسمح بأن تكون أراضيه أو أجواؤه منطلقاً لأي اعتداء على دول الجوار
- Al-Ahad TVAAH — official owned media13 Aug, 02:23
“Al-Zaidi stresses the importance of strengthening air-defense capabilities to take on responsibility for protecting the airspace.”
الزيدي يؤكد أهمية تعزيز قدرات الدفاع الجوي لتولي مسؤولية حماية الأجواء
- Al-Ahad TVAAH — official owned media13 Aug, 02:24
“Al-Zaidi follows up on the air-defense capability-building plan for the years 2026-2031.”
الزيدي يتابع خطة بناء قدرات الدفاع الجوي للأعوام 2026-2031
- iNEWSKSS — affiliated/aligned media13 Aug, 02:55
“Al-Zaidi conducts a night visit to the Air Defense Command operations center.”
الزيدي يجري زيارة ليلية إلى مركز عمليات قيادة الدفاع الجوي
The one line that differentiates these carriages is the one that constrains use of Iraqi soil against a neighbour, and it appeared on a Badr-aligned channel while an AAH channel simultaneously framed a neighbouring state as an aggressor.