Kurdistan Region leaders mourn airport security employee killed in drone attack

ERBIL — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Sunday offered condolences following the killing of Walat Tahir, a 31-year-old security employee at Erbil International Airport, in a drone attack overnight.

“I extend my deepest condolences and sympathy to the family, relatives, friends and colleagues of the martyr Walat Tahir,” Barzani said, describing him as having been “martyred as a result of the unjust, oppressive and terrorist attack targeting the Kurdistan Region.” He also wished a swift recovery to the three others injured in the strike.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also expressed condolences over the killing of Tahir, saying he offers “my deepest condolences and sympathy to the family, relatives and colleagues of the martyr Walat Tahir.”

Barzani said Tahir was killed “as a result of an unjust and oppressive terrorist attack targeting the Kurdistan Region while carrying out his duty to protect the security of the homeland,” adding that he prays for God to grant mercy to the victim, patience to his family and a swift recovery for the wounded.

Aziz Ahmad, deputy chief of staff to the KRG prime minister, said Tahir was 31 years old and leaves behind two children. “He sacrificed his life for his nation,” Ahmad wrote on social media, adding: “The criminals firing these drones and rockets are on the Iraqi government payroll.”

Tahir was killed when a drone struck Erbil International Airport during a wave of overnight attacks that also hit Peshmerga positions and areas near a UN facility and the Turkish Consulate in Sulaymaniyah. Several drones were intercepted by air defense systems while investigations are ongoing.

The attacks are part of a sustained campaign against the Kurdistan Region that has killed at least two people and injured several others since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began Feb. 28.

This article has been updated to include comments by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani