ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), one the Iranian Kurdish opposition parties based in Erbil, said on Tuesday that one of its bases near Erbil city was targeted with several ballistic missiles. The attack comes amid an escalation in the US-Iran war.
"Within the space of an hour, the Chamshar base near Darashakran [refugee] camp in Erbil province was struck by five ballistic missiles," Adib Khalidian, a leadership member of the party, told Rudaw.
The missiles, believed to have been fired by Iran, targeted a base housing the military wing of PAK, the Kurdistan National Army.
"All five missiles were intercepted and brought down by the defense system, and there was no damage," said the PAK official.
The Iranian Kurdish parties, based in the Kurdistan Region, have largely remained on the sidelines of the US and Israeli conflict against Iran. Despite abstaining from joining the war, they and the Kurdistan Region have been a primary target for Iran and its aligned "Islamic Resistance of Iraq" militias since February 28.
According to Rudaw's records, Iran and its aligned groups in Iraq have struck the Kurdistan Region with at least 927 drones since the war began. The cross-border attacks have killed 30 people and injured 148 others. Nearly 50 drones and missiles hit the Region in the first three weeks of July.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Sunday reiterated the Region's neutrality amid the continuing attacks. He stressed that Erbil is not part of the regional tensions and "has no desire to be," condemning the recent strikes targeting the Region.
Explosions were also heard near the US consulate in Erbil late Tuesday. Footage obtained by Rudaw shows projectiles being intercepted over Erbil.
Updated at 11:08 pm
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