SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a series of missile and drone attacks early Monday in the Kurdistan Region, killing a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), an opposition Kurdish party based in Erbil’s Koya district.
Attacks were launched on different areas in the Region, including Zirgwez mountain in Sulaimani, Koya and Bahrka districts in Erbil.
Kurdish opposition groups have recently been targeted by Iran, claiming that they are linked to anti-government protests spreading throughout the country.
An IRGC attack two weeks ago killed two KDPI members and injured at least eight others in the Region.
Iranian officials have already urged the groups to disarm and close their headquarters. Mohammad Pakpour, the head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), warned Kurdish opposition groups in the Kurdistan Region to “close your headquarters or wait for further attacks.”
The Kurdish opposition groups, however, rejected Iran’s request.
Amjad Hussein Panahi, the commander of the Komala party, which is based in Sulaimani’s Zirgwez mountain, told Zoom News Monday that Iran wants to create chaos outside its borders in order to clear its country of conflicts.
Asked what their response would be if Iran conducted ground military operations in the Kurdistan Region, Panahi said “Iran cannot conduct ground operations in the Kurdistan Region because a large number of Iranian forces have been deployed in the cities to combat the protesters. Any attack outside the country could result in failure for the regime in its cities.”
The Iranian attacks sparked local and international reactions.
In a statement, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) “strongly” condemned the Iranian attacks on the Kurdistan Region, adding that Iran’s continuous violation of the sovereignty of Iraq and the Region is “unjustified and a clear violation of international law and neighborly relations.”
“We call on the Islamic Republic of Iran to stop the attacks against the Kurdistan Region, because stability can never be achieved through violence,” the statement added.
“The KRG calls on its allies and partners in the federal government, the United Nations and the international community in general to take a clear stance against these continuous Iranian attacks.”
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) calls on Iran to cease the “repeated attacks and violating Iraqi sovereignty,” adding that “such aggression not only recklessly heightens tensions but also causes tragedy.”
Repeated attacks, violating Iraqi sovereignty, must cease. Such aggression not only recklessly heightens tensions but also causes tragedy. Whatever external score a neighbouring country is seeking to settle, the use of established diplomatic instruments is the only way forward. pic.twitter.com/GoRmXgkV2S
— UNAMI (@UNIraq) November 21, 2022
In a tweet, the US Central Command condemned the Iranian cross-border strikes in Erbil’s Koya district, adding that “Such indiscriminate and illegal attacks place civilians at risk, violate Iraqi sovereignty, and jeopardize the hard-fought security and stability of Iraq and the Middle East.”
Statement regarding Iranian strikes near Erbil, Iraq pic.twitter.com/P0fa7kQhRj
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) November 21, 2022
Germany’s Consulate General in Erbil condemns the renewed Iranian missile and drone strikes on the Kurdistan Region, calling on Iran “to stop these attacks immediately.”
We reiterate our strong condemnation of the renewed Iranian missile and drone strikes on targets in the #KRI. They constitute another flagrant violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of #Iraq. We call on Iran to stop these attacks immediately.
— German Consulate Erbil (@GermanyInKRI) November 21, 2022
David Hunt, the British Consul General to Erbil, urged Iran in a statement to “stop” the attacks that “killed at least 12 people and injured, and displaced many more” since September.
Once again, residents of the #KRI face missile and drone strikes by the IRGC. Since September, these attacks have killed at least 12 people and injured and displaced many more. The UK stands with the KRI in the face of this aggression. Our message is clear: stop pic.twitter.com/a6ayC3h8Db
— UK in Erbil (@ukinerbil) November 21, 2022
