Barzani condemns Iranian missile strike on Peshmerga

ERBIL — Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani condemned Tuesday’s Iranian missile strike on Peshmerga positions near Soran, saying the attack “cannot be justified” and that similar incidents have occurred “repeatedly” without regard for “the principles of neighborly relations and international law.”

“This is a hostile attack and cannot be justified,” Barzani said, offering condolences to the families of those killed and describing the Peshmerga as “the most valuable asset of our people.” He stressed that the Kurdistan Region “has not been a party to the current war in the region and has never posed a threat to neighboring countries.”

Six ballistic missiles struck Peshmerga positions near Soran in two separate attacks early Tuesday, killing six fighters and wounding about 30 others. Two fighters remain missing.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani condemned the strike as “a direct hostile aggression against the sovereignty of the country,” while Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said the KRG “will take all measures to counter this hostility” and called on the federal government and international community to act.

The strike follows a drone attack Sunday on a Peshmerga position in Chamchamal and earlier drone strikes in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah last week. More than 300 attacks have been carried out across the Kurdistan Region since the war began Feb. 28, according to Community Peacemaker Teams – Iraqi Kurdistan.