Erbil rocket attack part of US-Iran conflict: KDP official

Khazan Jangiz

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) politburo has said Monday’s rocket attack on Erbil is part of the conflict between Tehran and Washington and serves as a message to the US and the Kurdistan Region.

“The rocket attack on Erbil is a part of the conflict between Iran and America,” Jafar Iminki told Rudaw’s Sangar Abdulrahman on Tuesday.

“The message is primarily for the Americans that are settled here, they have a big military base here. The Americans understand this message of course,” he said, adding that the attack also sends a message to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

One person was killed and nine injured after nearly 14 rockets were launched towards various locations across Erbil on Monday night. The deceased was a civilian contractor and other contractors and military personnel were among the injured, a spokesperson for the US-led coalition told Rudaw.

A militant group by the name of Saraya Awlia al-Dam (Guardians of Blood Brigades) claimed responsibility for the attacks, but their account contradicts numbers provided by official security sources.

The capital was last targeted in a rocket attack by Iran-backed groups in September.

Militias close to Tehran often carry out attacks on US and international sites in Iraq, including the US embassy and Iraqi military bases hosting coalition troops.

Tensions between the US and Iran have been running high for a long time, and came to a head with the US assassination of top Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in January 2020, which prompted a flurry of rocket attacks on Iraqi bases hosting US troops. The assassination came just days after supporters of Iran-backed militias stormed the US embassy in Baghdad.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani called on the United Nations and its security council to take the threats of the rocket attack on Erbil “very seriously” and encourage Baghdad to work with Kurdish and coalition forces to enhance security in the disputed territories.