ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Interior Ministry of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Saturday accused Baghdad of evading its responsibility to investigate and prevent repeated drone attacks in the Kurdistan Region.
"There is an expectation from the relevant parties of the federal government that when there are threats against the Kurdistan Region or any other area of Iraq, necessary measures should be taken to reveal the truth and prevent the recurrence of threats and punish the perpetrators. However, unfortunately, we feel there is a kind of cover-up and evasion of responsibility regarding those security breaches that are carried out against the Kurdistan Region,” the ministry said in a statement.
Multiple explosive-laden drones have crashed or been downed in the Kurdistan Region since a US-brokered ceasefire between Iran and Israel went into effect on June 24. No group has claimed responsibility.
On Friday, the KRG’s Interior Ministry said the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) were complicit in the attacks. The Iraqi government responded on Saturday, saying such accusations against a federal force were “unacceptable.”
Iraqi militia groups have denied involvement and blamed the Islamic State (ISIS).
In its statement on Saturday, the KRG’s Interior Ministry said that in the past Baghdad has never taken action against the perpetrators of drone and missile attacks on its territory.
“Although the direction and source of the missiles and drones were clear, and several times joint committees were formed between the regional government and the federal government to reveal the truth, unfortunately again neither were the results of the investigations disclosed to the public opinion, nor was anyone punished for those apparent crimes and illegal actions, and no measures were taken against any party,” it said.
Iran and Iran-backed Iraqi militia groups have carried out multiple attacks on targets in the Kurdistan Region in recent years.
The Interior Ministry said that safeguarding people’s lives and national sovereignty is the responsibility of both the federal and regional governments, regardless of political differences.
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