Iranian drones target Kurdistan PM’s office in Erbil attack
Two explosive-laden drones were reportedly launched from across the Iranian border during an overnight attack.
Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said his personal office and the residence of the head of the region’s Security and Intelligence Agency were targeted.
He described the incident as a serious escalation and said it posed a direct threat to the security and stability of the Kurdistan region.
The Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Directorate said there were no casualties in the attack.
Following an investigation by the Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Unit, my personal office and the home of the head of the Security and Intelligence Agency were targeted by Iranian drone attacks earlier today.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) August 17, 2026
I condemn these reckless and unacceptable attacks in the strongest terms.…
Two drones used in overnight attack
According to the regional security authorities, the attackers used two Hadid-110 drones carrying explosives.
The drones were reportedly launched from Iranian territory and flew toward Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
One drone targeted the private office of Barzani, while the other was directed at the residence of the director of the Parastin Agency.
The attack caused concern because the targets were connected to senior political and security officials.
Authorities did not immediately provide details about the extent of property damage or explain how the drones reached their targets.
The incident comes amid wider military tensions in the Middle East, with Iraqi Kurdistan facing security risks because of its location and political importance.
Kurdistan has faced repeated attacks
The Kurdistan region has been repeatedly affected by attacks since the start of the wider Middle East conflict.
The autonomous region hosts US military personnel, international oil companies and Iranian Kurdish opposition groups that have established bases there after leaving Iran.
According to Kurdish authorities, more than 1,000 attacks have been recorded in the region by Iran and Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq since the conflict began.
Erbil has also seen several drones intercepted before they could reach their targets.
Other attacks have been directed at US interests and Iranian Kurdish opposition groups operating inside the region.
Iran has accused these Kurdish opposition organisations of supporting Western and Israeli interests. Tehran has also carried out attacks against some of these groups during periods of regional tension.
Most of the groups have moved personnel away from their bases and camps in Iraqi Kurdistan since the latest conflict began.
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Previous deadly strikes raise concern
The latest drone attack has increased concerns among Kurdish officials about the possibility of further strikes.
On July 17, drone and rocket attacks near Sulaimaniyah in eastern Kurdistan killed nine people, according to officials.
The incident highlighted the security challenges facing the region as tensions between Iran and its opponents continue.
Iraqi Kurdistan has generally tried to avoid becoming directly involved in regional conflicts. However, its geographic position and the presence of foreign forces and Iranian opposition groups have made it vulnerable to attacks.
The latest incident also puts additional pressure on regional authorities to strengthen protection around senior officials and important facilities.
