Iran calls drone strike on Barzani’s office a terrorist act

BAGHDAD — Iran’s foreign minister described Monday’s drone strike on the Kurdistan Region prime minister’s office as a terrorist act, in a call with his Iraqi counterpart, after the KRG prime minister attributed the attack to Iran.

Abbas Araghchi told Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein that vigilance was needed against actions that could damage relations between Iraq and Iran, and called for closer coordination on their shared border, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi telephoned Masrour Barzani on Tuesday to condemn the attack on his private office and the home of the head of the Parastin intelligence agency, saying attacks on Iraq and the Kurdistan Region were unacceptable. Barzani thanked him for the call and his follow-up, the KRG said. Zaidi ordered an investigative committee on Monday to establish where the attack came from, where it was launched and who was responsible, with his office saying the findings would be published as soon as possible.

Two explosive Hadid-110 drones hit the two sites in Pirmam district northeast of Erbil at 12:28 a.m. on Monday, launched from the Iranian side of the border, the Kurdistan Region’s Counter-Terrorism Directorate said. No one was hurt.

Barzani blamed Iran directly. “My personal office and the home of the head of the Security and Intelligence Agency were targeted by Iranian drone attacks earlier today,” he said, calling the strikes “a dangerous escalation and a direct threat to the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region.” Region President Nechirvan Barzani and parties across the Region also condemned the attack, several calling on Baghdad to prevent further strikes, and Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani blamed Iran and said the attack violated Iraqi sovereignty and disregarded the Region’s declared neutrality.