Two drones targeted facilities belonging to Iranian Kurdish opposition parties in Iraq's Erbil governorate. An explosion was heard and a fire broke out at the site, according to local sources. The attacks have intensified since the Iran war began.
The drone attacks on facilities of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in Iraq's Erbil governorate represent a significant escalation of regional tensions, particularly amid the ongoing Iran war. These cross-border assaults, attributed to Iran, threaten Iraq's sovereignty and regional stability, drawing condemnation from Iraqi and US officials.
Two drones targeted facilities belonging to Iranian Kurdish opposition parties in Erbil governorate, in Iraq’s northern Kurdish region, according to Al Jazeera. An explosion was heard and a fire broke out at the site, the network reported, citing local sources.
Iran fired two drones on Monday into the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, aimed at the office of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and the home of a senior local security official, the region’s Counter-Terrorism Service said. Mr Barzani condemned the “reckless and unacceptable attacks in the strongest terms,” warning the attack marked “a dangerous escalation and a direct threat to the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region”.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi has ordered an investigation to “uncover the sources and origins of the attacks,” a statement said. He directed that the results be announced to the public as soon as possible. The two explosives-laden drones were launched from the border area with Iran shortly after midnight. The second bomb hit the residence of the director of the Parastin intelligence agency in the Pirmam district of Erbil. There were no reports of casualties or major damage.
These are the latest in a series of cross-border attacks that have intensified since the Iran war broke out in late February. Iran and its proxies inside Iraq have regularly attacked US troops and the consulate in Erbil, and infrastructure in the region. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein condemned the “unjustified” attack in a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, requesting clarification from Tehran. Mr Hussein stressed that “such actions constitute a serious escalation with negative repercussions for Iraq’s security”. Mr Araghchi expressed “surprise at the attack and said he had no information indicating it was launched from Iranian territory”, adding that there “was no justification for the incident, noting the positive and strong relations between Iran and the KRG”.
Tom Barrack, the US special envoy in Iraq and Syria, strongly condemned the attack on “our friend and valued Kurdish partner,” stating, “Such aggression against our trusted Kurdish allies is unacceptable and a direct threat to regional stability.” He expressed support for Mr Zaidi’s “leadership in restoring Iraq’s full sovereignty and ensuring all weapons and security forces remain under the authority of the Iraqi state”.
Iraq has been drawn deeper into the conflict since the war's outbreak. Iran has accused the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region and other parts of Iraq of hosting Israeli intelligence and logistics networks for US and Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups, responding with ballistic missiles and drones fired from Iranian territory. Targets have included US assets, Kurdish opposition groups, energy infrastructure, and local security headquarters.