ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A number of Katyusha rockets landed in the Khabat district of Erbil province late Wednesday without causing any casualties, a local official told Rudaw, fired from Nineveh province into the vicinity of Kawergosk oil refinery.
Ahmed Nabi, mayor of Kawergosk, which borders Khabat, told Rudaw that a number of Katyusha rockets targeted Khabat, which is situated to the west of Erbil in the direction of Mosul.
The Kurdistan Region’s Directorate General of Counter Terrorism (CTD) confirmed the attack, saying three rockets were "launched from the district of al-Hamdaniya two-side in Khazir Front towards Erbil city." The Iran-linked Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) have a strong presence in al-Hamdaniya.
The CTD added that the rockets hit near the oil refinery, noting that the attack has not caused any casualties or material damage. Kawergosk oil refinery is one of the largest refineries in the Kurdistan Region and is operated by the Iraqi-Kurdish oil company KAR Group, the owner of whom's residence was targeted by Iranian missiles last month.
It is not yet clear why the rockets were launched nor who did it. Last month, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Erbil which caused extensive damage. At least four of the missiles landed on a property belonging to the CEO and founder of KAR Group, Baz Karim Barzinji in the early hours of March 13.
Iraqi Security Media Cell said in a statement on Wednesday that security forces have begun a "search and inspection" to find the perpetrators, and that they will be punished. It also said that no casualties or material damage was recorded as a result of the attack.
Kurdish security forces are searching for the rockets of this most recent attack.
Sources told Rudaw's reporter on the ground, Farhad Dolamari, that five rockets were launched but one exploded in the launchpad.
"We heard four bangs...They were very loud,” Ismael Shakir, a local village saidfollowing the attack, adding that he thought the noise was caused by thunder.
“The bang was huge. It shook the land,” Qahar Nasheer, a local said and suggested that based on the sound, they may have landed in water. However the location of impact was discovered in the early hours of Thursday.
As of late Wednesday night, Dolamari said no rockets have yet been found.
Updated on April 7 at 3:37pm
