Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked the Kurdistan Region’s Erbil and Sulaimani provinces on Wednesday, targeting the bases of exiled Kurdish opposition groups. At least 16 people were killed and over 50 were injured in the attacks, according to Kurdish parties and data collected by Rudaw.
The UN Security Council met on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Iraq. Hennis-Plasschaert briefed the Council about the latest developments in Iraq, especially the Iranian attacks.
“In May, I raised the alarm at Turkish and Iranian shelling in the North [Kurdistan Region] having become the ‘new normal’ for Iraq. With last week’s Iranian attacks, I can now only repeat myself. These reckless acts must cease. No neighbour should treat Iraq as its backyard,” said the UNAMI chief.
The attacks have been locally and internationally condemned.
The drone and missile attacks have caused the displacement of hundreds of families from a refugee camp in Erbil province’s Koya town to the downtown, according to a local official.
Many villagers in Erbil’s bordering areas have abandoned their houses in recent days after Iran increased its bombardment there.
There have been protests in Iran, starting with the recent death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini while in morality police custody in Tehran. The IRGC blamed the Kurdish parties for a violent unrest that had engulfed the country for nearly two weeks. Demonstrations are ongoing.
