‘No child killed’ in Erbil strike, claims Iran

NEWSROOM, 20 January — The aftermath of this week’s Erbil missile attack conducted by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continues to stir diplomatic tensions, particularly between the Netherlands and Iran. The strike, which tragically claimed the lives of several civilians, including 11-month-old Dutch citizen Zhina Dizeyee, has drawn sharp condemnation from the Dutch government.

Amidst this diplomatic dispute, Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, has denied claims that children were among the casualties in the attack. This denial directly contradicts reports from the attack site and the Dutch government’s ire. The Netherlands, in response to the death of Zhina and her father, Peshraw Dizeyee, a prominent businessman in the Kurdistan Region, has censured Iran for the incident.

The Dutch foreign minister has offered support to the affected family and expressed readiness to assist all those impacted by the Erbil strike.

The missile attack in Erbil was part of a broader IRGC operation, reportedly targeting what Iran claims were espionage headquarters of the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad. These claims have been vehemently denied by Kurdish officials.

The IRGC stated that the strikes were in retaliation for actions deemed hostile to Iranian interests. The Dutch government’s response has included summoning the Iranian ambassador, intensifying diplomatic pressures over the matter of civilian casualties, especially the young Dutch victim.

The IRGC’s actions and subsequent international responses underscoring the volatile situation in a region on edge following the outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip, which has threatened to spill over into the wider Middle East region.