International condemnations of Iranian missile attack on Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — The recent ballistic missile attack by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), resulting in the tragic death of four civilians and injuries to 16 others, has sparked widespread international condemnation.

In a rare move, Iraq recalled its ambassador to Tehran over the incident. The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attack “a blatant violation” of Iraq’s sovereignty and “strongly contradicts the principles of good neighborliness and international law, and threatens the security of the region.”

The French Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attack, deeming such actions unacceptable and insisting that they must cease immediately. The UK, Canada, Japan, and the US also condemned the Iranian attack.

أدين بأشد العبارات الهجمات الصاروخية الإيرانية المميتة على إقليم كردستان العراق، حيث استهدفت المدنيين بشكل متهور وغير مسؤول، وكذلك هجمات الطائرات المسيّرة على قاعدة أربيل الجوية. تعد هذه الهجمات الأخيرة انتهاكاً صارخاً لسيادة العراق. ونعرب عن خالص التعازي لأسر الضحايا والمصابين. pic.twitter.com/M9kg7BHZxT

— Ambassador Alina L. Romanowski (@USAmbIraq) January 16, 2024

During a meeting at the Davos International Forum in Switzerland, KRI Prime Minister Masrour Barzani engaged with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Among the various topics discussed, the missile attack on Erbil took center stage. Blinken, echoing the sentiments of US President Joe Biden, declared these attacks a serious threat and emphasized the imperative need to protect the security of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

In response to the severity of the situation, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry has taken decisive action by summoning its Ambassador to Tehran, marking a diplomatic move in the aftermath of the missile strike on Erbil.