An Iranian-backed militia in Iraq has released footage purportedly showing a first-person-view (FPV) drone strike on a US military installation near Baghdad International Airport. The group Kataib Hezbollah published the video online, claiming it shows an FPV drone flying around Victory Base Complex before crashing into a building inside the compound. The facility is located close to Baghdad International Airport, where US forces have maintained a presence as part of regional security operations.
According to defence reporting, the footage appears to capture the drone circling the installation before diving toward the structure and detonating on impact. Analysts say the strike may represent the first known successful use of an FPV attack drone by the militia against a US base in Iraq, potentially allowing it to evade existing air-defence systems.
A suspected FPV drone strike by an Iranian-backed militia has been reported in Iraq.Video shows the munition flying near Victory Base by Baghdad International Airport before striking a building.@Osinttechnical pic.twitter.com/NqFSOiqtvr
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 15, 2026
FPV drones, originally designed for racing and hobby use, have increasingly been adapted as “kamikaze” or one-way attack drones, carrying explosive payloads and guided manually by an operator through a live video feed. These drones can cost only a few hundred dollars, making them far cheaper than traditional precision-guided weapons while still capable of damaging military infrastructure.
The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions tied to the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Across the Middle East, Iranian-aligned groups have stepped up attacks on US facilities and allied targets, including drone and rocket strikes linked to militias operating in Iraq and elsewhere.
