Rocket attack near Erbil International Airport in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

ERBIL, Iraq — On Wednesday evening, an area close to the Erbil International Airport in Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) was targeted with rockets. The KRI Ministry of Interior stated that the attack caused no injuries and were believed to have been launched from areas under the control of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Nineveh Province. The KRI Prime Minister, Masrour Barzani, declared that the regional government will not tolerate this attack and promised a strong response.

The Ministry of Interior of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) issued a statement explaining what happened last night near the airport.

“On Wednesday, at exactly 08:30 p.m.., six rockets were launched towards Erbil International Airport. Fortunately, their targets were not hit, and no damage was caused. The missiles were fired from a pickup truck at the border of Bartella between the villages of Sheikh Amir and Tarajlah in Nineveh Province, which are areas located within the borders of the 30th Brigade of the Popular Mobilization Forces.”

The statement declared that relevant authorities are continuing to investigate the situation to obtain more information.

The rockets were reportedly targeting one of the headquarters of the opposition Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) in the vicinity of Erbil. Several rockets landed in the vicinity of the U.S. forces stationed inside the airport.

Local Kurdish Peshmerga forces indicated that three of the rockets were intercepted by short-range air defense systems.

Prime Minister Barzani posted via Twitter, “I strongly condemn the rocket attack in Erbil, the Kurdistan Regional Government will not be tolerant regarding any attempt to destabilizes the region and our response will be strong.”

He pointed out that he had spoken with the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi about the attack and stressed the importance of holding the perpetrators accountable.