Iran Launches Missile Strikes on Kurdish Areas in Iraqi Kurdistan Amid Regional Tensions
In recent days, Iran has intensified missile and drone attacks targeting Kurdish areas in Iraqi Kurdistan, particularly around the cities of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. These strikes coincide with broader Iranian assaults on Gulf states and Jordan. The targeted Kurdish groups are reportedly those allegedly encouraged by the US during the "Roaring Lion" operation to launch ground attacks inside Iran.
Pro-Iranian Iraqi militias are the primary suspects behind the attacks, given their loyalty to Tehran and history of strikes against Kurdistan and US interests in Iraq. However, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization of key pro-Iranian militias, officially denied involvement in the recent attacks, warning that they would retaliate against US interests if American aggression against Iran continues.
Former Israeli military intelligence official Danny Citrinowitz confirmed that Iran conducted missile launches targeting the Kurdish region, claiming the strikes aimed at US military bases and Kurdish opposition groups. The attacks have raised security concerns, briefly halting flights from Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports before services resumed.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai justified the strikes as defensive measures against US military installations used for planning hostile actions against Iran and against anti-Iranian forces in neighboring countries. He emphasized Iran’s security agreement with Iraq and its efforts to prevent Iraqi territory from being used for hostile operations against Iran.
These attacks come amid Iraqi government efforts, supported by the US, to centralize weapons control under state authority, a process some militias resist. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaydi recently visited the US and met with President Donald Trump, sparking backlash from Iran-aligned factions. Following the visit, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced a $10 million bounty for Trump’s assassination.
Since the start of the conflict with Iran on February 28, 2026, Kurdish areas in Iraqi Kurdistan have endured approximately 920 drone and missile strikes, resulting in 30 deaths and over 100 injuries.
