US strongly condemns Iran’s ‘flagrant use’ of drones, missiles against neighbors

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States on Wednesday condemned Iran’s missile and drone attacks targeting the Kurdistan Region, vowing to take action “to disrupt Iran’s destabilizing activities across the Middle East.”

In a statement, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, expressed Washington’s solidarity with Iraqi and Kurdish leaders, calling the recent Iranian attacks “an assault on the sovereignty of Iraq and its people.”

“Iranian leaders continue to demonstrate flagrant disregard not only for the lives of their own people, but also the core principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined in the UN charter,” Sullivan added. 

“Iran cannot deflect blame from its internal problems and the legitimate grievances of its population with attacks across its borders,” the statement continued, referring to days-long protests in Iran over the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini who died in detention on September 16. 

Earlier on Wednesday, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price also condemned the “brazen” attacks.

“We are also aware of reports of civilian causalities and deplore any loss of life caused by todays attack,” Price’s statement read. 

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday showered with ballistic missiles and suicide drones bases of Kurdish opposition groups in the Kurdistan Region under the pretext of fueling protest across the country.

The attacks by the IRGC, according to an initial tally obtained from the Kurdish health ministry, killed nine people and wounded 32 others with the toll expected to increase.

US Central Command on Wednesday evening also condemned the attacks, adding that its forces had intercepted an Iranian drone launched towards Erbil earlier in the day, without causing casualties. 

“At approximately 2:10 PM local time, US forces brought down an Iranian Mojer-6 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle headed in the direction of Erbil as it appeared as a threat to USCENTCOM forces in the area.”

The IRGC in a statement confirmed the use of drones and missiles in the attacks, saying the operations will continue until all bases of Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups are dismantled and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) fulfilling its duty in doing so.

The UK also urged Iran on Wednesday to put an end to attacks on the Region, also calling them a “violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” its Minister of State for the Middle East, Tariq Ahmad, said. 

 

Updated at 10:03pm with US CENTCOM statement