Iran’s ‘reckless’ attacks on Kurdistan Region should cease: UNAMI chief

04-10-2022
Rudaw
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Chief Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert on Tuesday reiterated that Turkish and Iranian shelling targeting the Kurdistan Region has become a “new normal,” adding that Iran’s recent attacks on the Region must end.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked the Kurdistan Region’s Erbil and Sulaimani provinces on Wednesday, targeting the bases of exiled Kurdish opposition groups. At least 16 people were killed and over 50 were injured in the attacks, according to Kurdish parties and data collected by Rudaw.

The UN Security Council met on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Iraq. Hennis-Plasschaert briefed the Council about the latest developments in Iraq, especially the Iranian attacks.

“In May, I raised the alarm at Turkish and Iranian shelling in the North [Kurdistan Region] having become the ‘new normal’ for Iraq. With last week’s Iranian attacks, I can now only repeat myself. These reckless acts must cease. No neighbour should treat Iraq as its backyard,” said the UNAMI chief.

The attacks have been locally and internationally condemned.

The drone and missile attacks have caused the displacement of hundreds of families from a refugee camp in Erbil province’s Koya town to the downtown, according to a local official. 

Many villagers in Erbil’s bordering areas have abandoned their houses in recent days after Iran increased its bombardment there. 
 

There have been protests in Iran, starting with the recent death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini while in morality police custody in Tehran. The IRGC blamed the Kurdish parties for a violent unrest that had engulfed the country for nearly two weeks. Demonstrations are ongoing.   

 

Comments

Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.

To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.

We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.

Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.

Post a comment

Required
Required
 

The Latest

A screengrab from a 22-minute long video posted by Kurdish security forces (Asayish), showing security forces during the anti-ISIS operations. Photo: Screengrab/Asayish

Sulaimani security forces dismantle 'dangerous' ISIS cell

Sulaimani security forces (Asayish) on Sunday announced the dismantling of the Islamic State's (ISIS) so-called Kurdistan State cell, following months-long operations across the Kurdistan Region and the disputed areas.