Recent drone attacks in Iraqi Kurdistan

On March 29, 2026, air defense systems in Erbil intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle near the residence of Masoud Barzani, the leader of the ruling party in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan. This incident occurred shortly after a separate drone attack targeted a secondary residence of Nechirvan Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Region. The United States State Department condemned the attacks, attributing them to Iranian-backed militias and describing the actions as an assault on Iraq's sovereignty. Meanwhile, Qubad Talabani, the Deputy Prime Minister of the region, stated that the Kurdistan government is urging federal authorities in Baghdad to intervene and stop the frequent drone strikes. Talabani also denied allegations that the U.S. is arming Iranian Kurdish opposition groups stationed in the area, emphasizing that the region will not permit itself to be used as a base for regional conflicts. The local authorities reiterated their commitment to preventing any militant activity from within their borders.