Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, which have targeted the autonomous Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq more than 400 times, escalated their attacks on Saturday.
The attack, which targeted Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani’s house, was condemned by France and Iraqi politicians.
Iran distanced itself from the drone attack, even though it launched missiles at Kurdish Peshmerga in Iraq last week, killing six Kurds. The Peshmerga are the Kurdistan Region’s armed forces.
Barzani is known for being a pragmatic politician who invests in the prosperity of the region and seeks to avoid conflict. He is related to former Kurdistan Region president Masoud Barzani, who is now head of the Kurdish KDP party. He is also related to the region’s prime minister, Masrour Barzani.
Kurdish politician Hoshyar Zebari, a former deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Iraq, wrote on X/Twitter: “The armed Iraqi militia controlled and directed by IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps], working on [the] ground with them, have their own bank of targets irrespective of the Iraqi Gov and the command & Control of the PMF [Popular Mobilization Forces] to attack & create as much chaos to drag Iraq into this destructive war. This has to stop now.”
The PMF is a paramilitary group in Iraq. Many of the Iranian-backed militias are part of the PMF. This means they receive state funding and backing.
The militias have carried out more than 500 attacks in Iraq, targeting the US embassy, the Kurdistan Region, and other targets. The US has recently sought to coordinate with Iraq to stop the attacks. US A-10 warplanes have also targeted the militias.
Macron condemns attacks in Kurdistan Region
“I condemn and denounce in the strongest terms the cowardly drone attack on the residence of the President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, in Duhok,” Masrour Barzani said. “Once again, we call on the federal government to act on its responsibility, bring these outlaw criminals to justice, and curb the continued terrorist attacks carried out by these groups.
“I also call on the international community and our friends to support the Kurdistan Region in protecting its citizens and safeguarding the interests of the Kurdistan Region. We reserve every right to confront these terrorists, and we will take whatever steps are necessary to protect the Kurdistan Region.”
French President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned the drone attack “that was carried out today on President Nechirvan Barzani’s house in Duhok [and] reiterated his country’s continued support for the Kurdistan Region and Iraq,” the Kurdistan Region Presidency said in a statement.
Macron has been a close friend of the Kurds and the Kurdistan Region.
Iraqi politicians also condemned the attack.
The Iraqi Sunni Azm Alliance said it “considers this a serious transgression that threatens the country’s security and stability and undermines efforts to de-escalate tensions and maintain internal peace,” Kurdistan Region-based news channel Rudaw Media Network reported.
Khamis al-Khanjar, a senior Sunni Iraqi leader, condemned “in the strongest terms the terrorist attack,” the report said.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also condemned the attack.
The IRGC, which backs the militias in Iraq, also condemned the attack.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the drone attack was a “terrorist act.”
Ammar al-Hakim, leader of the Shi’ite Iraqi National Wisdom Movement, said the attack was “heinous.”
The Iranian and pro-Iran statements indicate that the attack was an “escalation,” as Iranian-backed militias have been behind these attacks.