ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday condemned a “cowardly terrorist” drone attack on its Consulate General in the Kurdistan Region’s capital city, Erbil, which caused material damage but no injuries.
In a statement carried by the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM), Abu Dhabi said it “strongly condemns and denounces the cowardly terrorist drone attack targeting the UAE Consulate General in Kurdistan, Iraq, which caused material damage but resulted in no casualties.”
WAM quoted the Emirati foreign ministry as emphasizing that “targeting diplomatic missions and premises constitutes a blatant violation of all international norms and laws,” and constitutes a “serious escalation and a threat to regional security and stability.”
The ministry called on the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to “investigate the circumstances of this attack, identify the responsible parties, and take all necessary measures to ensure accountability.”
The attack on the Emirati Consulate General in Erbil comes amid escalating tensions triggered by the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, launched in late February and largely targeting security and military installations, as well as government institutions across Iran.
For its part, Iran said on Friday that it had launched more than 2,000 drones and over 600 missiles targeting US and Israeli positions as part of its multi‑front response to the ongoing campaign.
The Iranian response has also included strikes by factions aligned with the Iran-led ‘Axis of Resistance’, including by shadowy armed groups in Iraq that have carried out numerous attacks against alleged US targets in the country, including in the Kurdistan Region.
Earlier on Monday the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani in which he “strongly condemned terrorist attacks by Iran and Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq, including in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.”
Rubio stressed “the importance of the Iraqi government taking all possible measures to safeguard U.S. diplomatic personnel and facilities.”
Beyond the Kurdistan Region, the UAE has faced heavy Iranian drone and missile strikes over the past ten days.
The UAE defense ministry on Tuesday said the country has been targeted by more than 1,400 projectiles. While air defenses, including THAAD and Patriot systems, intercepted most threats, the volume of attacks caused disruption and civilian casualties.
The UAE reported four civilian deaths - foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh - and 112 injuries from falling debris.
Residential towers in Dubai Marina, The Palm Jumeirah, and the Etihad Towers’ facade in Abu Dhabi also sustained damage, while fire crews responded to blazes at an Amazon Web Services (AWS) data center and Jebel Ali Port caused by intercepted projectiles.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) also remains partially closed after a drone strike damaged Concourse D, injuring staff. Meanwhile, operations at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport and several maritime ports have also been restricted.
In a stern address, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated the country is in a “time of war” but remains resilient.
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