Kurdistan
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani (right) and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Photo: Kurdistan Region Presidency
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday held a phone call with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during which he strongly condemned a drone attack by “outlaw groups” in Iraq that targeted the Emirati Consulate General in Erbil.
According to a statement released by Kurdistan Region Presidency, President Barzani reaffirmed that "the federal government of Iraq must fulfill its responsibility to protect diplomatic missions and take serious steps to deter these groups, and to arrest and punish the perpetrators of these subversive attacks," which he said "pose a real threat to the sovereignty and stability of Iraq in general.”
A drone strike on Monday caused material damage to the Emirati consulate but no injuries were reported.
For his part, the Emirati president "thanked President Nechirvan Barzani for his call and position, emphasizing the UAE’s continued support for the peace and stability of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq."
Abu Dhabi had earlier condemned what it described as a “cowardly terrorist” drone strike targeting its diplomatic mission in Erbil.
In a statement carried by the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM), the Emirati foreign ministry said that “targeting diplomatic missions and premises constitutes a blatant violation of all international norms and laws” and warned that such acts represent a serious escalation threatening regional stability.
The ministry also called on Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to investigate the attack and ensure accountability.
The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions following the ongoing military confrontation between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other, which began in late February.
Iran says it has launched more than 2,000 drones and over 600 missiles at US and Israeli positions in response to the campaign. The escalation has also seen Iran-aligned armed factions in Iraq carry out repeated attacks against alleged US targets, including in the Kurdistan Region.
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