Maliki condemns attacks on Kurdish leaders’ residences, calls for national unity

BAGHDAD — Former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki condemned attacks targeting the residences of Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, calling the incidents “rejected and condemned” and warning they threaten Iraq’s national unity.

“These acts do not only target specific individuals alone, but affect the security and stability of Iraq as a whole and contribute to weakening national unity,” Maliki said on X. He called for “strengthening the spirit of solidarity and cohesion among the people of the country, rejecting violence in all its forms, and standing as one to thwart attempts by those who seek to destabilize the country and incite division.”

Multiple drones targeted Duhok on Saturday, with security forces intercepting some. Prime Minister Sudani called Nechirvan Barzani to condemn the attack on his residence and ordered a joint federal-KRG security and technical team to investigate and pursue those responsible.

Masoud Barzani issued a sharp statement Saturday saying attacks on the Kurdistan Region have exceeded 450 since the war began and that Iraqi authorities must either act decisively or admit they cannot stop the groups responsible. He revealed his own headquarters had been struck five times but that the party had stayed silent “so as not to create anxiety and anger among the public.”