ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has called for action in response to Saturday drone attack on Erbil, claiming such attacks call the Iraqi government’s power and credibility into question.
“Thank you to those who have condemned the alarming drone attack on Erbil. But this is not enough: there must be a response to this act of aggression,” Barzani tweeted late on Saturday night. “These continued terror attacks by outlaws question the federal govt’s power and credibility and threaten Iraq’s security.”
Four explosive-laden drones hit Bragh village, northeast of Erbil, early on Saturday morning. The attack caused material damage, but there were no casualties.
Three drones hit a house in the village, with a fourth landing in an unpopulated area. The new US consulate in Erbil is being built just a few kilometres from the village.
The Kurdistan Region’s counter-terrorism unit shared photos of the drones, on which Arabic phrases affiliated with Iran-backed groups could be seen.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which drew condemnation from the US consulate.
This is not the first time Erbil has been targeted by drones. Erbil International Airport was attacked by an explosive-laden drone on April 14 that targeted international forces of the global coalition against Islamic State (ISIS).
Iran-backed militias have launched numerous attacks on US interests across Iraq since the US assassination of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani last year.
