Iranian drones struck the private office of Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and the residence of the region’s intelligence chief in Erbil overnight, drawing swift international condemnation and prompting Iraq’s federal government to launch an investigation.
Kurdistan’s counter-terrorism unit determined that Barzani’s personal office and the home of the head of the Security and Intelligence Agency were targeted by Iranian drone attacks. No casualties were reported in the strikes, which hit the heart of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s security apparatus.
The United Arab Emirates issued a strong condemnation, calling the assault “a blatant violation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan.” Iraq’s federal government said it would launch a formal investigation into the attack.
Iran Claims False-Flag Warning
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned what he described as a “reckless attack” while simultaneously warning Kurdish officials to remain vigilant against what he called possible “false-flag ploys” aimed at creating tensions between neighboring countries. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei described the incident as “a highly suspicious development.”
Araghchi said Iran had protected its Kurdish allies against Saddam Hussein and the Islamic State, while expressing gratitude for the security they had provided along Iran’s border. The statement reflected Tehran’s attempt to distance itself from the attack while maintaining its alliance with Kurdish factions.
“The UAE strongly condemns the Iranian aggressive attack on Iraqi Kurdistan,” the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, expressing “full solidarity with the brotherly Republic of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government.”
Kurdistan Bears Brunt of Regional War
Since the start of the US-Israel-Iran war, the Kurdistan region has been targeted with more than 1,000 attacks by Tehran and pro-Iran armed groups inside Iraq. Drones have repeatedly been intercepted over Erbil, while others have struck rebel groups and US military interests in the region.
The attack on Barzani’s office is particularly significant given the prime minister’s active role as a mediator between Washington and Tehran. Iraqi Kurdistan’s President Nechirvan Barzani had been relaying messages between the two sides since March, meeting Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani twice in Baghdad. The strikes on the office of the very leader facilitating diplomacy underscore the fragility of back-channel communications amid the wider conflict.
Sources: Gulf News; Reuters; WAFA; AP News
discussion