Qatar, Saudi Arabia Condemn Drone Attacks in Iraqi Kurdistan

Qatar and Saudi Arabia condemned drone attacks targeting the office of Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and a regional intelligence chief’s home, while Kurdish authorities accused Iran of carrying them out.

The Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Unit accused Iran of sending two explosives-laden Hadid-110 drones across the border at 12:28 a.m. Monday, Aug. 17.

The unit said one drone targeted Barzani’s private office at Kurdistan Regional Government headquarters. The other was aimed at the regional intelligence chief’s home in Pirmam District, Erbil Governorate. It reported no casualties.

In his Monday post, Barzani wrote that according to the results of investigations conducted by Kurdistan Region’s Counter-Terrorism Directorate, it was Iran that conducted these attacks. He said that these actions should be regarded as “reckless and unacceptable aggressions” and a dangerous escalation of the situation as well as direct threat to regional security and stability.

Virginia Times could not independently verify the regional government’s attribution of the attacks to Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote, “Nothing justifies the reckless attack on PM Barzani’s office.” He urged his “Kurdish friends” to be vigilant against “false-flag ploys to sow discord between neighbors.”

The post did not identify who carried out the attack. Araghchi also said Iran had protected Kurdish people against Saddam and Daesh and thanked Kurdish authorities for providing security along Iran’s border.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in its Aug. 18 statement that the targeting was the blatant violation of the sovereignty of Iraq and the Kurdistan region, which was also the violation of international law.

The ministry called on to conduct dialogues, diplomacy and de-escalation in order to keep security and stability. Qatar also demonstrated solidarity with Iraq and the Kurdistan region and supported their sovereignty and security.

Saudi Foreign Ministry released the strongest condemnation, saying that these attacks were the violations of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Neither statement of the governments identified Iran as the one who conducted these attacks.

Iran and Iran-aligned armed groups have repeatedly accused Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region of harboring Iranian Kurdish opposition groups that Tehran considers a security threat. Iraqi Kurdish authorities deny allowing their territory to be used to threaten neighboring countries.