A dozen ballistic missiles struck Iraq’s northern Kurdish regional capital Erbil early Sunday morning, the Kurdish government said in a statement on March 13.
“We condemn this terrorist attack and assure our citizens that no terrorist attempt can jeopardize our region or the peace and security of our people,” the statement read.
The missiles were launched from “east outside Iraq’s borders” and were thought to have been aimed at a new U.S. embassy building and residential areas. According to a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government, the attack damaged buildings and dwellings, and one person was “lightly wounded.”
Lawk Ghafuri, a Kurdish journalist and reporter based in Erbil, said that Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, visited the bombing sites on March 14, along with Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, Prime Minister of Iraq.
“The United States condemns in the strongest terms Iran’s missile attack on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement.
“This attack targeted a civilian residence in Erbil, the Kurdistan Region’s capital city, without any justification. The United States stands with Prime Minister Kadhimi and the leaders of the Kurdistan Region, President Nechirvan Barzani, and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, in condemning this assault on the sovereignty of Iraq and its Kurdistan region,” he continued.
Sullivan said the U.S. will support the Government of Iraq in holding Iran accountable and will support U.S. partners throughout the Middle East in confronting similar threats from Iran.
“The United States of America stands behind the full sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Iraq,” Sullivan said.
“Erbil will stand strong against cowardly attacks,” Barzani tweeted. “I strongly condemn the terrorist attack on Erbil and call on its resilient people to keep calm and follow the guidance of the security services.”
