US-led coalition forces intercepted and shot down three bomb-laden drones over Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan Region, in the early hours of Friday, according to a statement from the Erbil-based Directorate General of Counter Terrorism. The interceptions occurred between 2:17 a.m. and 2:25 a.m. local time, and the directorate said there were no casualties.
Three drones intercepted over Erbil as Baghdad struggles to curb Iran-backed militias
US-led coalition forces intercepted and shot down three bomb-laden drones over Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan Region, in the early hours of Friday, according to a statement from the Erbil-based Directorate General of Counter Terrorism. The interceptions occurred between 2:17 a.m. and 2:25 a.m. local time, and the directorate said there were no casualties.
The Kurdistan Region has been targeted by more than 950 drone and missile attacks launched by Iran and allied armed groups in Iraq since a six-week war began in late February, according to tracking by Erbil-based Rudaw media. Those attacks have killed 32 people and wounded 154 others as of early August, Rudaw reported.
The Rudaw report also noted that Iran targeted an area in the Alana valley with missiles and drones the previous week, striking the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran and Komala, two Kurdish Iranian opposition groups.
Kurdistan Regional President Nechirvan Barzani said in an interview with Iraq's privately owned Al Sharqiya TV that the region had been targeted by 1,000 attacks using drones and missiles. Erbil has stated its support for Baghdad's plan to bring militia weapons under full state control, a position also backed by the US and Saudi Arabia, according to the source.
The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), the Iraqi paramilitary umbrella that includes Iranian-backed factions, announced that its 52nd Brigade would be deployed in Amirli district in eastern Saladin province. A PMF statement described the move as part of 'a reorganization of security sectors and responsibilities aimed at enhancing field integration and coordination between the forces,' according to Rudaw. Iraqi officials have described the PMF as 'a constitutional and legal institution.'
- The source does not identify which armed group or groups carried out the Friday drone attack.
- The source does not state what the 'partial agreement' referenced by KSS spokesperson al-Fartousi entails, who is party to it, or when it was reached.
- The source does not state what specific measures Baghdad has taken or plans to take to disarm or subordinate Iranian-backed militias outside the PMF structure.
- The source does not provide an independent or official Iraqi government response to the Friday interception.
- The source does not explain the discrepancy between the figure of 'more than 950' attacks cited from Rudaw tracking and the figure of '1,000 attacks' attributed to President Barzani.
- The source does not state the current status of the six-week war referenced as beginning in late February, including whether active hostilities are ongoing.
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