Multiple rockets fired at Erbil

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Multiple rockets have been fired at the Kurdistan Region’s capital of Erbil, killing one and injuring several others, according to multiple sources.

One civilian contractor was killed, and five others injured, in addition to the injury of a US service member, in "indirect fire" that landed on Coalition forces,  tweeted OIR spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto. The KRG's health ministry also claims that three people were injured in the attacks. 

US-led coalition forces are present at a military section at Erbil International Airport. Coalition spokesman Colonel Wayne Marotto confirmed to AFP that the dead contractor was not Iraqi, but could not give immediate details on the victim's nationality.

Two rockets landed in a residential area near the airport, security sources tell Rudaw. 

One has landed on the wall of Naz city apartments, according to Rudaw’s reporter on the ground. Two people have been injured and are at the hospital.

The Chinese consulate, located near Naz city, has reportedly been impacted by the attack. 

One rocket has hit an animal market near the airport, according to Rudaw’s reporter on the scene.


A security source tells Rudaw that the rockets were fired from the direction of Hamdaniya district, near Mosul. However, Nineveh Governor Najim al-Jabouri told Rudaw that the rockets were not launched from Nineveh, where Hamdaniya is located.

The Kurdistan Region's counter terrorism unit says "two rockets landed at the Erbil International Airport and one rocket flew over the airport" according to the information they obtained, in a statement on their Facebook page.

The attacks took place around 9:30 pm.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani condemned Monday's rocket attacks on Erbil "in the strongest terms," urging people in Kurdistan to remain calm.

"I’ve instructed security services to start a full investigation and spoke with PM @MAKadhimi on ways to cooperate and identify the outlaws behind this terror attack ," tweeted the premier.
  
Iraq's Security Media Cell confirmed that Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi ordered the formation of a joint investigation committee with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to identify the culprits behind the attack, according to a statement released via Telegram. 

The KRG's interior ministry also said that security forces have begun investigating the event, calling on people to stay home.

"The first injured is a guard at one of the consulates in the Waziran neighborhood," said the health ministry in a statement, adding that the person is in stable health.

"The second injured is a Kurd from Rojava [who was hit] at an animal market," with being in good condition. 

The third person injured was also hit at the animal market, and received serious injuries. 

“We are aware of press reports of explosions in northern Iraq and are looking into them.  We defer to the government of Iraq for further comment," a US state department spokesperson told Rudaw.

Rudaw English has reached out to US consular representatives for comment, but have yet to receive a response. 

International targets in central and southern Iraq have been a site of frequent bombardment by rogue armed groups. Less attacks have taken place in recent weeks.

The Kurdistan Region has seen comparatively less rocket fire, with the last attack on Erbil happening in late September, when several rockets headed toward Erbil's airport. 


Safeen Dizayee, head of  KRG's Department of Foreign Relations, told Rudaw's Sangar Abdulrahman that they have contacted consulates in Erbil to make sure that diplomats are "safe and ensure them that the public institutions will do their utmost to protect them."

"The targeting of Erbil that claimed victims represents a dangerous escalation and a criminal terrorist act against national efforts to protect the security of the country and the safety of its citizens," tweeted Iraqi President Barham Salih. "We have no choice but to firmly strengthen our efforts to root out the forces of terror and their attempts to plunge the country into chaos."