Drone crashes in Erbil’s Golden Zone and Peshmerga unit in Sulaymaniyah

ERBIL — A drone crashed Wednesday night in Erbil’s Golden Zone, sending thick smoke into the air, security sources and eyewitnesses said.

Security forces rushed to the scene while civil defense teams worked to contain a fire caused by the crash. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the Saad Abdullah Hall was the intended target or whether the drone fell there after being intercepted or malfunctioning. Videos circulating online showed heavy smoke rising near the complex.

In a separate incident the same night, a drone was brought down near positions of the Peshmerga’s Unit 70 in Sulaymaniyah. Videos shared on social media showed Peshmerga fighters firing toward the drone before it fell.

The incidents are part of a broader wave of attacks on the Kurdistan Region since the regional war began Feb. 28. Earlier this week, coalition forces intercepted three explosive-laden drones over Erbil, with debris from one falling near the UAE Consulate. Monitoring groups say the Kurdistan Region has faced over 200 drone, missile and rocket attacks since the conflict began, hitting military installations, airports, diplomatic facilities, oil sites and residential areas across Erbil and Sulaymaniyah governorates.