ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An unidentified drone carrying explosives targeted Peshmerga forces in the Deraluk subdistrict of Duhok province on Monday, injuring three personnel, local sources told Rudaw.
"Yesterday, a Peshmerga force was deployed at a new position near Balave village. At 3pm today, a drone fell on that Peshmerga position; we don't know what damages occurred,” Faiq Balavayi, a resident of Balave village in Amedi district’s Deraluk, told Rudaw on Monday.
A source from Amedi’s health directorate told Rudaw on condition of anonymity that three Peshmerga personnel were affected by the incident and transferred to the city’s main hospital.
"Three wounded Peshmerga were transported to our hospital. All three are in stable condition and have received initial treatment. One of them will remain here for treatment, while the other two wounded will be transferred to Duhok, but the condition of all three is stable,” they said.
Rudaw's correspondent on the ground reported that two of the Peshmerga that were hospitalized due to physical injuries while the third was experiencing psychological distress.
Kamaran Osman, a member of the US-based Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT), told Rudaw on Monday that the attack occurred while "Peshmerga forces were setting up a military checkpoint" in Balave.
According to Osman, a "drone flew over them and was shot at from an unknown source." However, he clarified that it was not the Peshmerga forces setting up the checkpoint who fired at the drone. The drone subsequently "exploded above the checkpoint," resulting in light injuries.
The area is known for armed conflict between the Turkish army and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Updated at 5:43 pm.
