HEWLÊR-Erbil,— A drone loaded with explosives was intercepted and shot down near Erbil International Airport in Iraqi Kurdistan region on Monday, Kurdish security forces reported.
Later that evening, two additional explosive-laden drones struck the Khurmala oil field in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq.
According to the Kurdish counterterrorism services, the first drone was neutralized at 2:20 a.m. local time near Erbil airport without causing any casualties or damage.
This marks the second such drone intercepted near the airport this month, which is home to U.S. troops operating under an international coalition against jihadist groups.
Later on Monday, at around 8:20 p.m. and 8:25 p.m., two more drones hit the Khurmala oil field in Erbil province, officials said.
Kurdish security forces confirmed there were no casualties from these strikes, but the Iraq Joint Operations Command reported that the attacks caused material damage to the site.
The Joint Operations Command also stated it is working closely with Kurdistan’s security agencies to investigate the incidents. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for any of the three drone attacks.
In recent weeks, the Kurdistan region has experienced a surge in drone strikes.
Pro-Iranian Iraqi Shiite militias have been suspected of carrying out similar attacks in the past. Kurdish officials have also pointed to these groups as possible perpetrators.
On July 3, a drone was downed near Erbil airport, with the regional interior ministry blaming the Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition of mainly pro-Iranian paramilitary groups now part of Iraq’s official armed forces.
Baghdad’s federal government has denied these accusations, calling them unfounded.
Erbil airport has been a frequent target of drone and rocket attacks in previous years amid ongoing tensions and proxy conflicts in Iraq.
Analysts suggest these attacks may be linked to Iran’s retaliation against the Kurdistan region for its alleged support of Israeli operations against Iran in June 2025. According to them, the Islamic Republic will certainly teach Kurdish leaders a lesson.
(With files from AFP | Agencies)
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