Blasts west of Erbil were military training, not an attack, says counter-terror directorate

ERBIL — Loud explosions heard across parts of Erbil governorate on Sunday evening came from military exercises and security activity, not a drone or missile attack or a bombing, the Kurdistan Region’s Counter-Terrorism Directorate said.

“We reassure everyone that the sounds of the explosions heard today, Sunday, Sept. 20, within Erbil governorate were military exercises, training and security activity, and there is no cause for concern,” it said, without saying which forces were involved or where.

Coalition aircraft shot down 10 bomb-laden drones over the governorate on Sept. 2 and five were intercepted on July 24, drone debris fell in Erbil neighbourhoods in July causing damage, and a house was destroyed in Rawanduz this month leaving a crater about three metres deep.