Key facts
- Air defense systems intercepted drones over Erbil on Thursday.
- Coalition air defense systems intercepted four drones near the US consulate in Erbil on Wednesday evening.
- Explosive-laden drones targeted a camp of the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) on Tuesday.
- A large explosion occurred at a weapons and ammunition depot in Sulaymaniyah on Friday evening.
- Coalition defenses shot down five explosive-laden kamikaze drones in Erbil's airspace on Friday evening.
Iraqi air defense systems intercepted multiple drones over the northern province of Erbil early Thursday, according to Iraqi security sources speaking to Al Jazeera. Footage circulating online depicted remnants of drones falling in a residential area near Erbil International Airport, with no immediate reports of casualties or injuries.
Earlier on Wednesday evening, international coalition air defense systems intercepted four drones over Erbil. Explosions were heard in the sky following the activation of these systems, which a security source confirmed destroyed the drones before they reached their targets, causing no casualties or material damage. On Tuesday, Iraqi security sources reported that air defenses intercepted three explosive-laden drones near the U.S. consulate in Erbil, with two additional drones targeting a camp belonging to the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), an Iranian Kurdish opposition group. Erbil International Airport experienced temporary flight suspensions but later resumed operations. On Monday, Iraqi air defenses downed an explosive-laden drone near Harir Air Base, which hosts U.S. and international coalition forces.
Late Friday evening, July 17, 2026, the Kurdistan Region experienced a series of security incidents, including foreign drone incursions and a massive blast at a logistics facility in Sulaymaniyah Governorate. The Directorate General of Counter-Terrorism (CTD) confirmed that coalition air defense systems intercepted five explosive-laden kamikaze drones in the airspace around Erbil. Simultaneously, a powerful explosion occurred in the Tasluja district of Sulaymaniyah, targeting a facility believed to be a weapons and ammunition depot, leading to evacuations of nearby residential areas. Additional drone tracks and unexplained explosions were reported in the Harir mountain range and wider Sulaymaniyah sectors.
No group has claimed responsibility for these attacks, and neither Iraqi officials nor the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have identified the attackers or the types of drones involved. The recent escalation in Iraqi Kurdistan, characterized by drone assaults over Erbil, occurs amidst heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.