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Iraqi Kurdish PM Barzani’s office targeted in drone attack

Al Jazeera · 2026-08-17

AI SUMMARY

• What happened: The office of Masrour Barzani, the Prime Minister of Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government, was targeted in a drone attack, reportedly launched from Iranian territory, with no casualties reported. • Why it matters: The attack is seen as a direct threat to the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region, highlighting ongoing tensions between Iran and Kurdish groups in Iraq. • What to watch next: Monitor responses from the Kurdistan Regional Government and potential escalations in regional tensions, particularly regarding Iran's stance on Kurdish opposition groups.

SaveSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkMasrour Barzani, prime minister of Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government [File: Safin Hamid/AFP]Published On 17 Aug 202617 Aug 2026The office of the prime minister of Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has been targeted in a drone attack, the region’s security agency said, adding that there were no reports of casualties.The statement said the home of the head of the semi-autonomous Iraqi region’s security and intelligence agency had also been targeted by drones early on Monday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Iranian Kurd leader in Iraq says ground operation into Iran ‘highly likely’list 2 of 3Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region suffers as US-Iran war drags onlist 3 of 3Iraq’s Kurdish region wants to stay out of regional conflicts: PM Barzaniend of listThe attacks were launched from Iranian territory, the agency said, without clarifying whether the drones hit their targets.“Two Hadid-110 drones targeted the private office of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government and the residence of the Security Directorate”, the Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Service said in a statement cited by Iraq’s state news agency.The statement confirmed that no casualties were reported.In a post on X, KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani condemned the attack as “illegitimate and unacceptable”.“This is a dangerous step and a direct threat to the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region,” he said.Iran and Iran-aligned armed groups have repeatedly accused Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region of harbouring Iranian Kurdish opposition groups that ‌Tehran regards as a security threat.Iraqi Kurdish authorities deny allowing their territory to be used to threaten neighbouring countries.

Source: Al Jazeera
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