SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region – The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran on Monday carried out a series of missile and ‘suicide’ drone attacks on the headquarters of the Kurdish opposition groups based in the Kurdistan Region, resulting in one death and multiple injuries.
The Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), based in Erbil’s Koya district, announced in a statement that the attack on their headquarters began at 8:45, in which one peshmerga member was killed and eight others injured, according to the Koya health department.
Unfortunately, a number of #Peshmergas have being wounded in this morning's attack by the terrorist Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on our party's headquarters and adjacent refugee camps.#URGENT #JinaAmini #KoyaAttack #twitterkurds pic.twitter.com/N3Wd2cCu5s
— PDKI (@PDKIenglish) November 14, 2022
KDPI’s statement stated “Iran intends to maintain its harsh rule by engaging in violence at home and attacking neighboring countries with missiles and drones.”
Apart from Koya, Iran has targeted other regions as well, including Sulaimani’s Zirgwez mountains and Erbil’s Broadest areas.
Amjad Hussein Panahi, commander of Kurdistan’s left-wing Komala party told Zoom News their headquarters in Sulaimani’s Zirgwez mountains were hit 10 times by suicide drones without causing any casualties.
Footage shows the moment #Iran's IRGC drones targeting #Sulaimani's Zirgwez mountains, attaking headquarters of Komala Party of Iranian #Kurdistan pic.twitter.com/hQJWZ5kxSf
— Zoom News (@zoomnewskrd) November 14, 2022
According to the semi-official Iranian news outlet Tasmin News Agency, the IRGC has claimed responsibility for the strikes, using missiles and ‘suicide’ drones in the attacks.
Following the attacks, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani condemned the attacks at the opening of an institute, saying that “we condemn the violations of the sovereignty of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.”
“May the martyrs rest in peace and may healing come to the injured,” Barzani added.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani condemned the Iranian strikes on the Kurdistan Region, urging Iraq to strengthen efforts to protect the sovereignty of the country and the Kurdistan Region.
The US ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski said in a statement the US “strongly condemns” the Iranian drone and missile attack on the Kurdistan Region, calling on Iran to stop attacking its neighbor and the people of Iraq.
The U.S. strongly condemns the #Iranian drone & missile attack on the Iraqi @Kurdistan Region today & calls on Iran to stop attacking its neighbor & the people of Iraq. We stand w/@IraqiGovt’s leaders in Baghdad & the #IKR and condemn these violations of Iraqi sovereignty.
— Ambassador Alina L. Romanowski (@USAmbIraq) November 14, 2022
In a statement, the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) condemned the renewed Iranian missile and drone attacks on the Kurdistan Region, which “violate Iraqi sovereignty,” adding that Iraq should not be used as an arena to settle disputes and “its territorial integrity must be respected.”
We condemn renewed Iranian missile and drone attacks on KR, which violate Iraqi sovereignty. Iraq should not be used as an arena to settle scores and its territorial integrity must be respected. Dialogue between Iraq and Iran over mutual security concerns is the only way forward.
— UNAMI (@UNIraq) November 14, 2022
“Dialogue between Iraq and Iran over mutual security concerns is the only way forward,” the statement read.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has warned that it will not compromise on protecting the security of its borders and will respond to threats made by “groups” in the Kurdistan Region, referring to Iranian-Kuridsh opposition parties in the Kurdistan Region.
In a similar attack on opposition parties late September the IRGC killed at least 16 people, including one child, and over 50 were injured in the attacks.
Last updated at 12:50.
