The Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq was struck by two explosive-laden drones, local officials said on Thursday, in the latest attack on the region.
While in the past, Iranian-backed militias and Iran’s regime have attacked the Kurdistan Region, it was not initially clear who carried out the attack.
The reports said that the Counter-Terrorism Service of the Kurdistan autonomous region had noted the attack by the drones. Shafaq News in Iraq said that “in a statement, the agency condemned the ‘terrorist’ operation in the Qushtapa district south of the Kurdish capital, saying the strike targeted vital civilian infrastructure that affects the daily lives of residents.”
The attack “caused extensive damage to the building, but no casualties were reported. No party has claimed responsibility so far,” the report said. It also noted that “according to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), 809 drone and missile attacks were recorded across Kurdistan.”
As US-Iran tensions grow, Iraq's PM travels to Washington
The incident comes as US-Iran tensions have grown in recent days. It also comes as Iraq’s prime minister is expected to visit the US.
It is worth noting that Iran and Iranian-backed militias have continued to target Iraq’s Kurdistan Region in recent months, turning the autonomous region into one of the key fronts in the wider confrontation involving Tehran and its adversaries. The attacks have focused on Kurdish Iranian opposition groups based in northern Iraq, but they have also threatened civilian areas, infrastructure, and broader regional stability.
Since late February, hundreds of drone and missile attacks have struck the Kurdistan Region, according to Kurdish officials and local media.
Many of the attacks have targeted bases belonging to Kurdish Iranian opposition groups such as the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), Komala, and the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK). Tehran wants to weaken and deter these groups amid tensions with the US and Israel.
The attacks have continued despite a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Kurdish officials say that Iranian drones and missiles have repeatedly struck opposition camps near Erbil and Sulaimaniyah.
Komala and PAK have reported dozens of attacks on their facilities, while Kurdish media estimates that the Kurdistan Region has endured more than 800 drone and missile attacks since the conflict began, with the strikes resulting in deaths and injuries.
It is not clear yet if this last incident is part of this wider campaign or a different type of attack, as the region has also faced threats from ISIS in the past. The Kurdistan Region is a successful and stable part of Iraq and a key partner of the US.