Several rockets were fired at the Iraqi city of Kirkuk in the evening of June 30. This is a rare attack, and it was not clear who was responsible. In the past, Iranian-backed militias have used rockets to target the northern Iraqi Kurdistan autonomous region.
In addition, they have used rockets to target US forces in Iraq. In addition, there have been recent raids against ISIS in Kirkuk, meaning it is also plausible that ISIS could have carried out the attack.
The attack comes a week after drones targeted several sites in Iraq. The drones were likely launched by Iranian-backed militias. The drones targeted a radar site at Camp Taji north of Baghdad and also targeted a second radar site at the Imam Ali base near Nahariyah.
These are Iraqi army bases. The Taji base is a massive area, and the pinpoint targeting of the radar illustrates that this was likely an attack ordered by Iran.
The attack caused no casualties
The rocket fire is more mysterious. Rudaw media in Erbil noted that “at least three Katyusha rockets targeted the disputed northern city of Kirkuk and its airport late Monday, the governor said, injuring one person with investigations underway.”
The report said the rockets landed around 11:30 in the evening and they hit the Kirkuk International Airport. “We are waiting for the relevant authorities to carry out their work. [The attack] caused no casualties. Only material damage occurred to a house,” Kirkuk Governor Rebwar Taha told Rudaw.
According to the reports, air traffic continues at Kirkuk. “One rocket struck a residential house while the family was at home. Its owner told Rudaw that ‘we were sitting at home when a loud sound was heard. Thank God, there was no loss of life.’” Abdullah Mirwais, a member of the Kirkuk Provincial Council, told Rudaw it is not known who fired the rockets.
Kirkuk airport is also known as K-1 and is an airport and a historic air base. It used to have US personnel at the location. If the attack was carried out by Iranian-backed militias, then it fits the pattern of attacks on other Iraqi airports in the last week.
If it was carried out by ISIS, then it shows ISIS has acquired more rockets. The Katyusha-type rocket is common among Iranian militias. They often use the 107mm mass-produced rocket that can be easily fired from almost any homemade contraption.
Iraq will have to investigate and reveal more details.
Kirkuk is a mixed city with Kurds, Turkmen, and Arabs. It is the center of a dispute between the Kurdistan region and Baghdad. The Kurds have long claimed Kirkuk as a city and region that should be part of the autonomous region of the Kurdistan Regional Government.
During the ISIS war, Kurdish Peshmerga forces controlled Kirkuk from 2024 to 2017. The Iraqis pushed the Kurdish fighters out in 2017, ransacking Kurdish KDP party offices and expelling the governor and other Kurdish officials.
In recent years, there have been attempts at reconciliation.
ISIS cells continue to operate near Kirkuk. In addition, there have been recent raids on ISIS in the city. Iranian militias have made inroads near the city as well.
There is a current dispute between Baghdad and the Kurdistan region over energy contracts and salaries.
It is not clear which dispute may be at the basis of the rocket attacks.