President Masoud Barzani criticizes Iraqi authorities’ failure to stop attacks on Kurdistan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The attack on the residence of Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani in Duhok province is part of the “grave injustice and aggression” by outlaw groups against the Region, President Masoud Barzani said on Sunday, urging Iraqi authorities to either take serious measures to stop such assaults or admit their inability to do so.

In a sharply worded statement, the head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) said that while the Kurdistan Region “has never been part” of the regional conflicts, there are “some groups” that “unjustly and repeatedly attack the Region and its Peshmerga forces,” posing a threat to the lives and stability of its people.

President Masoud Barzani noted that over the past 30 days, since the start of the Iran-Israel-US war, these groups “have carried out more than 450 missile and drone attacks on the Kurdistan Region and Peshmerga positions.

“They have attacked our headquarters five times, yet we have remained silent to prevent fear and anger among the public,” the top Kurdish leader added, while strongly condemning the latest drone strike targeting Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani’s residence in Duhok.

“Such attacks are clear acts of warmongering, great injustice, aggression, and a serious violation against the Kurdistan Region, and they must be addressed with a decisive and final solution,” the KDP leader emphasized.

The US and Israel on February 28 launched a coordinated military campaign against Iran, with the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reporting on Saturday that more than 11,000 targets have been struck across Iran so far.

In response, Tehran has carried out thousands of drone and missile strikes across the Middle East, targeting alleged US assets in the region - particularly in Gulf Arab states - as well as launching retaliatory attacks against Israel.

In response, Tehran has launched thousands of drone and missile strikes across the Middle East, targeting alleged US assets in the region, particularly in Gulf Arab states, and has launched retaliatory attacks against Israel.

Iran’s response has also involved Iraqi armed groups aligned with the Tehran-led ‘Axis of Resistance,’ as several factions have claimed responsibility for attacks on purported US targets in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The latest incident included a drone attack that targeted the Duhok residence of Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Saturday condemned the latter attack and ordered the formation of “a joint security and technical team comprising relevant agencies from both the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government [KRG] to investigate the incident, identify those responsible, and take all necessary legal measures against them.”

However, President Masoud Barzani on Sunday censured Baghdad for its lack of tangible action to address the attacks by Iran-aligned Iraqi armed groups on the Kurdistan Region.

“Such attacks are clear acts of warmongering, great injustice, aggression, and a serious violation against the Kurdistan Region, and they must be addressed with a decisive and final solution,” the KDP leader said.

“This issue cannot be resolved through condemnation, phone calls, statements, or committees,” he added, urging Iraqi authorities to "take a clear position: either acknowledge their inability to restrain these unlawful groups or take serious steps to uphold state authority and implement firm measures to prevent further attacks on the Kurdistan Region."