The 12 ballistic missiles used in Sunday attack targeting the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq city of Erbil were launched from "outside Iraq,” the Ministry of Interior of the Kurdistan Regional Government KRG said in a statement
On early hours of Sunday, March 13, 2022, rockets hit several different areas in the city of Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, through missiles, resulting in material losses only and no casualties reported.
The Ministry of Interior of the Kurdistan Regional Government KRG said in a statement published hours after the attack, "12 ballistic missiles were fired from the eastern border of Iraq targeting the new building of the US Consulate in Erbil and residential areas near Kurdistan 24 TV channel."
"Material damages were caused to buildings and houses in the area. Fortunately, there were no injuries, with the exception of one civilian who was slightly injured," the statement explained.
The Ministry of Interior indicated that investigations are continuing and stressed that "Erbil is safe and will remain safe."
Kurdistan 24 Media Foundation published pictures and videos of the damage to the channel studio and some parts of the building.
So far, no party has claimed responsibility for the missile attack on Erbil.
Following October General Elections, the Kurdistan Democratic Party KDP, one of the key Kurdish parties running the KRG, has allied with Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and Sovereignty alliance by Sunni Arabs and successfully nominated Iraqi parliament speaker and deputies in an attempt to appoint the president and Prime Minister overlooking Iran allies.
Observers believe Iran is pushing hard to involve its allies united under the Coordinative Framework in nominating the two vacant senior positions pushing to the 3-side alliance to comply to tis demands.
Some Iraqi and Kurdish leaders anonymously accused Iran of Erbil attacks.
Baghdad used to be the main target of attacks, but missiles were fired at the Erbil airport days after General Qasem Soleimani's killing in January 2020. Pro-Iran parties insist that US troops to withdraw completely from Iraq.
A foreign civilian contractor was killed and eight were injured In Mid-February 2021 rocket attacks hit Erbil.
A group calling itself Saraya Awliyaa al-Dam or (Blood Guardians) claimed responsibility for the attack, that targeted "American occupation" in Iraq. It has not provided any evidence to prove its claim.
Erbil, March 13, 2022: Part of the damage caused to the building of Kurdistan 24 channel in the missile attack hit Erbil. Kurdistan 24
As citizens posted on social networks, the sound of rocket explosions was heard in most areas of Erbil.
Saman Barzanji, Minister of Health in the provincial government, told the media that the attack did not result in any loss of life.
The Prime Minister of Kurdistan Regional Government KRG, Masrour Barzani, said in a statement, "Erbil will not bow to cowards, I call on citizens to be patient and abide by the security instructions."
For her part, the United Nations Special Representative to Iraq, Jenin Hennis-Plasschaert, condemned in a statement the missile attack on Erbil, saying, "The Iraqis must confront together any action that violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their country, or threatens their security and unity."
The Security Media Cell of the Iraqi Federal Government stressed in a statement that “these unjustified actions will be doomed to loss, and the perpetrators will receive their just punishment," without revealing additional information about the details of the attack.
The Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mustafa Al-Kadhemi, said in a message that the attack on Erbil was an attack on "the security of our people", and pledged to open an investigation into the attack.
As for the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, he wrote in a tweet on his Twitter account, "Erbil is under the fire of loss and betrayal," and stressed that "Erbil will not kneel except for moderation, independence and sovereignty."
During the past three years, the city of Erbil was targeted with missiles several times, and the fingers were pointed in some of them at the armed groups loyal to Iran.
