ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region’s Security Agency (Asayish) said five missiles struck three areas in Sulaimani province early Monday, including a camp housing families of Iranian Kurdish opposition group Komala members, with no casualties reported.
The missiles were launched at around 3:10 am local time, according to a statement from the Sulaimani-based agency, which said three hit Zirgwez, while one landed near the village of Gurgachya in the Sirwan sub-district and another between the villages of Dari Zayn and Lower Miras in Qaradagh area.
“There were no casualties as a result of the attacks,” the Asayish said, urging residents not to approach the targeted sites or handle missile and drone fragments.
Residents of Dari Zayn told Rudaw’s Peshawa Bakhtyar that they were awakened by a series of loud explosions before dawn. The strikes sparked a fire in the area, which villagers and residents of nearby villages managed to extinguish.
“We were asleep; when the sound of the blast came, we woke up. The fire had already broken out,” Bakir, a resident of Dari Zayn, said.
Another resident, Raouf, said the explosions occurred shortly before dawn.
“We were asleep too. Before the morning call to prayer, three explosions went off one after another,” he said. “When I went outside after the sound, a fire had started.”
“Then the people of this village and other lower villages rushed to help put out the fire. They brought it under control quickly. Fortunately, there was no damage or harm,” he added.
Ali Ranjbari, head of Iranian Kurdish opposition group Komala’s relations, told Rudaw earlier on Monday that three missiles hit a camp housing families of Komala members in Zirgwez, causing material damage but no casualties.
Ranjbari attributed the attack to Tehran’s opposition to a planned general strike across Kurdish areas of Iran on Wednesday, marking the fourth anniversary of the death of Kurdish woman Zhina (Mahsa) Amini.
“These attacks are a futile attempt stemming from the anxiety, fear, and panic of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the general strike scheduled to take place across Kurdistan on September 16,” Ranjbari said.
A coalition of Iranian Kurdish opposition parties, including Komala, called on Kurds across Rojhelat on Sunday to participate in the strike.
Iran has not commented on Monday’s attacks.
The strikes come amid heightened tensions between Iran and Kurdish opposition groups based in the Kurdistan Region. Tehran has repeatedly accused the groups of posing a security threat and called on Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to disarm or expel them.
RELATED: Iranian Kurdish opposition group camp near Sulaimani targeted with missiles: Official
