Explosions and intercepted aerial attacks were reported near the US consulate in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan Region, as part of Iran's broader retaliatory operations against US and Israeli targets. While social media and some reports initially claimed a direct Iranian attack on the consulate, official accounts from Kurdish security forces and international media indicate that US-led coalition defenses successfully intercepted drones and missiles, preventing direct impacts on the facility. No casualties were reported in Erbil from these incidents, though the events have heightened tensions in the region.
The disturbances in Erbil began early Saturday, with at least three powerful explosions heard near the US consulate, shaking nearby residences. AFP journalists and local witnesses described smoke billowing over the city, particularly around Erbil International Airport, which hosts a US military base as part of the anti-ISIS coalition. Video footage obtained by outlets like CBS News showed interceptor rockets launching from near the airport, downing incoming threats.
Kurdish security sources confirmed that anti-air defenses intercepted multiple drones and missiles targeting both the consulate and the airport base.
The US Embassy in Baghdad issued a security alert for Iraq, including Erbil, advising American citizens to shelter in place amid the ongoing threats.
