Key facts
- Several explosions were heard in Erbil, Iraq, on Wednesday evening.
- Eyewitnesses and residents attributed the blasts to drones.
- The US-led Coalition intercepted and shot down eight explosive-laden drones over Erbil.
- No casualties were reported.
- The drone activity coincided with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's visit to the United States.
- US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth linked the attacks to Iran-aligned militias and called for Iraq to assert sovereignty.
Several explosions were heard in Erbil on Wednesday evening, with residents reporting that drones caused the blasts. The Erbil-based Counter-Terrorism Directorate confirmed that the US-led Coalition intercepted and shot down eight explosive-laden drones over the city between 8:53 pm and 9:20 pm local time, reporting no casualties.
The series of attacks coincides with the visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to the United States, where he met with US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Hegseth stated that to deepen the partnership between the US and Iraq, Baghdad must assert its sovereignty and disarm Iran-aligned militias responsible for numerous attacks on US personnel.
Ahead of Zaidi's visit, the Iran-aligned Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) group expressed its rejection of the trip, citing ongoing US-Israeli military operations and calling the US military presence an occupation. The IRI, which includes powerful Iraqi armed groups, has claimed responsibility for over 750 attacks against alleged US targets across Iraq since the start of the Iran war, with a majority concentrated in Erbil province.
These renewed attacks on Erbil follow an escalation in military exchanges between Iran and the US in the region. Iranian state media reported explosions attributed to US forces across southern Iran on Wednesday, and the US Central Command confirmed completing a round of strikes against Iran.