Drones Hit Iranian Kurdish Opposition Bases in Iraqi Kurdistan
Drone attacks struck bases of Iranian Kurdish opposition parties in Iraq's Kurdistan region overnight as US-led coalition air defenses intercepted drones over Erbil.
Developing story — this page will be updated as information becomes available.
Drone attacks targeted bases of Iranian Kurdish opposition parties in Iraq’s Kurdistan region on Monday evening, with strikes reported in Erbil, Soran and Khalifan and US-led coalition air defenses engaging drones over Erbil, Middle East Eye and Middle East Monitor reported, citing Iraqi media.
What we know
Iraqi media reported drone strikes across multiple locations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq early Tuesday, including Erbil, Soran and Khalifan, according to Middle East Eye. The outlet reported that US-led coalition air defenses engaged incoming drones over Erbil.
Middle East Monitor reported the attacks specifically targeted bases of Iranian Kurdish opposition parties operating from Iraqi Kurdistan, with air defenses intercepting drones over Erbil city, citing Iraqi media. Iranian Kurdish opposition groups — including Komala and PDKI factions — have long maintained rear bases in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region and have been targeted by past Iranian strikes.
Separately, Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported that a US drone was shot down over Iraq’s western Anbar province, citing Iraqi media. That claim has not been confirmed by US Central Command at time of writing.
What we don’t know
No party has publicly claimed responsibility for the Kurdistan Region strikes. Battle damage assessments, casualty figures, launch origins and the number of drones involved have not been released. The Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government have not issued official statements, and the US-led coalition has not publicly detailed its intercept operation. The Anbar drone claim rests on Iranian state media sourcing and remains unverified by Washington. This story is developing.
Context
The Kurdistan Region strikes extend a widening Iran-linked drone campaign across the Gulf during the stated pause in direct US–Iran fighting. Iran-aligned strikes on Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan hit US military infrastructure last week, a drone attack on a US base in northern Iraq followed days later, and Monday’s multi-country drone wave hit Israel, Jordan and Iraq in parallel with Houthi salvos on Saudi oil facilities.
Iran has a documented history of striking Iranian Kurdish opposition bases inside Iraqi Kurdistan, most recently in ballistic-missile and drone campaigns Tehran has publicly claimed. The overnight strikes come as Aramco halted Abqaiq operations following the Houthi campaign and as Riyadh publicly blamed Iran-backed militias in Iraq for earlier drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities.
What to watch
- Whether the Kurdistan Regional Government or US Central Command attributes the strikes to Iran or an Iran-aligned Iraqi militia, and whether any coalition personnel were injured in Erbil.
- Whether the Anbar drone-downing claim is confirmed by US CENTCOM or dismissed, and whether it prompts a US kinetic response inside the stated strike pause.
- Whether Tehran publicly claims the Kurdish-opposition base strikes — as it has in past campaigns — which would mark a direct Iranian military action during the pause window.
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