Iraq: Dozen ballistic missiles hit Kurdish capital Erbil, no casualties

Iraqi officials claim missiles were fired from Iran

A dozen ballistic missiles hit Iraq’s Erbil city in the northern Kurdish region on Sunday, and struck near a US consulate complex, officials said on Sunday.

The head of Kurdistan’s foreign media office said none of the missiles struck the US facility but that areas surrounding the compound had been hit. Authorities added that no casualties were reported in the incident. The consulate building is new and unoccupied.

Speaking to Erbil-based broadcaster Rudaw, governor Omed Khoshnaw said it was a terror attack against the US consulate.

US defence officials also condemned the attack, calling it “outrageous”. However, they said the number of missiles fired was still unclear and there was no indication the target was the consulate building.

In a statement on Twitter, Iraqi prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said: “The aggression which targeted the dear city of Irbil and spread fear amongst its inhabitants is an attack on the security of our people.”

Condemnation also came from Masrour Barzani, prime minister of the semi-autonomous Kurdish-controlled region.

In a Facebook post, Mr Barzani said Erbil “will not bow to the cowards who carried out the terrorist attack”.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has taken responsibility for the missile attacks, according to Iran’s state media.

There are escalating tensions between the US and Iran. The hostilities between the two countries have often played out in Iraq, whose government is allied with both countries.

US presence in Iraq came to a boil in January 2020 when a US drone strike near Baghdad airport killed top Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani.

Qassem Soleimani headed the expeditionary Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps responsible for the Islamic Republic’s foreign operations.