Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday fired a barrage of ballistic missiles and suicide drones at Kurdish bases in the Erbil and Sulaimaniya provinces in Iraqi Kurdistan. The offensive was triggered after Tehran blamed Iranian Kurds for supporting the ongoing anti-hijab protests.
IRGC ground forces commander Gen. Mohammad Pakpour said the Guards launched 73 ballistic missiles and dozens of suicide drones at the bases of “terrorist outfits” in northern Iraq. He noted that projectiles “precisely struck” the targets and “led to their complete destruction.”
Pakpour also warned Kurdistani authorities in Iraq “to remove the anti-Iran terrorist outfits” and stressed that “operations would continue until the full disarmament of the outfits.” The strikes reportedly killed at least 13 people and wounded 58 others.
The regime’s attack in Iraqi Kurdistan killing and injuring refugees, women and children is an undeniable crime. I express my condolences to our Kurdish compatriots. The Iranian nation will respond to this crime against humanity by continuing its revolution and reclaiming Iran. https://t.co/OJPG7vV5xE
— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) September 28, 2022
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani condemned Iran’s actions and said several civilians were among the casualties. Barzani assured Iran that Iraqi Kurdistan “will not allow any security threat to the neighbouring countries from its borders” and stressed that Kurdistan “should not be used as a battleground to settle disputes among rival parties.”
“We reiterate that weapons and use of force will not solve the problems and that the only solution which serves the interest of all parties is dialogue and peace,” he underscored.
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) representatives in the Iraqi parliament denounced the attack as well. “We strongly condemn the recent Iranian bombing of sites in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, which inflicted human and material losses among the region’s safe citizens,” the KDP said in a statement. The bloc also called on the Iraqi government to take a “bolder stance” against Iran.
Children panicking in school after the Iranian Regime fired missiles at civilians in Iraqi Kurdistan killing at least 10 people & wounding 10s others. Among the victims a pregnant woman! @POTUS shouldn’t reward such regime with billions of dollars. #Iran pic.twitter.com/oevGrH3mb1
— Sarai (Sarah Idan) Miss Iraq (@RealSarahIdan) September 28, 2022
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Wednesday summoned the Iranian ambassador to Baghdad to protest the bombings. Noting that Iraq’s sovereignty has been violated since 1991, referring to the United States’ (US) invasion, Iraqi FM Fuad Hussein said Iran “has no right to bomb Iraqi lands or have their armies entering to defend themselves against the armed parties present in Iraq.” He mentioned that Iraq is perfectly capable of dealing with its internal problems.
The US, meanwhile, called Iran’s actions “an unjustified violation of Iraqi sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Noting that these “brazen attacks” have led to the loss of civilian lives, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Washington stands with Baghdad.
Similarly, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warned Tehran that Washington “will continue to pursue sanctions and other means to disrupt Iran’s destabilizing activities across the Middle East.” “Iran cannot deflect blame from its internal problems and the legitimate grievances of its population with attacks across its borders,” he stressed.
Exclusive: Picture of the passport of US citizen Omer Mahmoudzadeh who was killed in the Iranian attacks against the Iraqi Kurdistan on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/d8MDI5nJPS
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) September 28, 2022
The US Central Command (CENTCOM), too, condemned Iran’s “unprovoked” attack on Iraq. It noted that no US forces deployed in Iraq were wounded or killed. However, several unconfirmed reports claim that an American citizen was killed in the attack. CENTCOM also said that “US forces brought down an Iranian Mojer-6 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle headed in the direction of Erbil as it appeared as a threat to CENTCOM forces in the area.”
The Arab League also deplored Iran’s actions, with Egypt and Jordan releasing separate statements condemning the attacks.
Iran has blamed Kurdish groups for supporting the ongoing anti-hijab protests and undermining the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic. Protests erupted on 16 September after a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, died in the custody of Iran’s morality police the previous day. Protesters, Amini’s family, and human rights groups claim that the morality police tortured Amini to death following her arrest for allegedly improperly wearing the hijab. Almost 80 protesters have been killed so far in clashes with security forces.