SULAIMANI (ESTA) — At least 12 ballistic missiles launched from outside Iraq struck Erbil early on Sunday, authorities said, adding that there were no casualties.
In a statement, the Kurdistan Region’s ministry of interior said the long-range rockets were launched from the eastern side toward the new building of the U.S. consulate-general in Erbil at 1 a.m. on Sunday, referring to areas on the border with Iran.
“Areas near the headquarters of K24 channel were also affected,” the ministry added.
A U.S. official told Reuters that the attack was launched from Iran.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson called it an “outrageous attack” but said no Americans were hurt and there was no damage to U.S. government facilities in Erbil, according to Reuters.
The Region’s interior ministry said there were no casualties but there was damages to buildings near the area. One civilian was wounded slightly, it added.
U.S. forces stationed at Erbil’s international airport complex have in the past come under fire from rocket and drone attacks that U.S. officials blame on Iran-aligned militia groups, but no such attacks have occurred for several months.
The last time ballistic missiles were directed at U.S. forces was in January 2020 — an Iranian retaliation for the U.S. killing earlier that month of its military commander Qassem Soleimani at Baghdad airport.
No U.S. personnel were killed in the 2020 attack but many suffered head injuries.
Iraq and neighboring Syria are regularly the scene of violence between the United States and Iran. Iran-backed Shia militias have attacked U.S. forces in both countries and Washington has on occasion retaliated with air strikes.
An Israeli air strike in Syria on Monday killed two members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Iranian state media said this week. The IRGC vowed to retaliate, it said.
