ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Four drones struck bases belonging to Iranian Kurdish opposition groups east of Erbil early Tuesday while another drone was shot down over the province, according to officials from the groups. No casualties were reported.
"The attack took place at 12:20 am in Alana Valley, but it resulted in no casualties," Amjad Hussein Panahi, head of the Komala of Toilers of Kurdistan communications, told Rudaw.
"Since the start of the war, Komala bases have been targeted by more than 95 missiles and drones," he said in what he characterized as a continued campaign against the group since the outbreak of the US-Iran war in late February.
The latest drone strikes come amid heightened regional tensions following renewed US-Iran military strikes despite ongoing indirect communication between Washington and Tehran regarding the implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in mid-June.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump said the United States was engaged in "very deep talks with Iran" but warned that Washington could resume "very strong military action" if diplomacy failed to bring about an agreement with Tehran, as Iranian officials confirmed that the exchange in indirect communication was ongoing.
Meanwhile, US Central Command said Monday it had intercepted multiple commercial vessels as part of its maritime blockade on Iranian ports.
Iranian Kurdish opposition groups operating in the Kurdistan Region have come under continuous attacks by Iran, which have killed dozens of the groups' members since the outbreak of the war.
Moments after the Alana Valley attack, two more drones crashed inside Jezhnikan camp, near Erbil's Bahrka district, according to a source from the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI).
"Tonight at 12:30 am, two drones crashed inside Jezhnikan camp east of Erbil, but there were no casualties," the source told Rudaw.
The camp, located east of Bahrka, houses some of the families and relatives of KDPI Peshmerga and party members. The camp has been evacuated since the outbreak of the US-Iran war.
Meanwhile, another drone was intercepted over Khalifan district. Rudaw reporter Andam Jabbar said the downing of the drones sparked fires in three locations across Alana Valley and in a village in Khalifan district.
"Fires broke out in three locations across Alana Valley and a village in the Khalifan district due to the shooting down of drones," Jabbar reported, adding that debris from the destroyed drones landed in the courtyards of several homes.
The attacks came only hours after Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said several of the drones that have recently targeted the Kurdistan Region were launched from the direction of Mosul, calling on Baghdad to prevent armed groups operating outside state control from threatening the Region's security.
"Unfortunately, in the past two or three days, some of the drones that targeted Erbil once again came from within Iraq itself, from the direction of Mosul," Barzani said during a press conference on Monday.
He urged the federal government to act against the perpetrators, saying Baghdad "is responsible for stopping the sources of these risks and threats against the Region."
