SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Kurdistan Region’s ministry of interior said on Wednesday that the attack on a U.S.-led Coalition base at Erbil international airport was carried out by a drone rigged with explosives.
“After investigations … it was discovered that the attack was carried out by a drone fired at the Coalition forces base at the airport,” the ministry said in a statement.
“There were no casualties, but damaged a building,” it added.
Earlier, the Kurdistan Region’s counter-terrorism service said a rocket fired towards Erbil international airport, without providing further details.
Former Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari said the attack was carried out by a drone to undermine security of the Kurdistan Region.
“Tonight there was yet another terrorist rocket – drone attack on Erbil airport to undermine the security of Iraqi Kurdistan,” Zebari said in a tweet.
“It seems the same militia who targeted the airport two months ago are at it again. This is a clear & dangerous escalation,” he added.
Sirens at the U.S. consulate in Erbil blared during the airport attack, according to witnesses.
A U.S.-led military base in the Erbil International Airport vicinity was hit by a barrage of rockets in February that killed a non-American contractor working with the U.S. military.
Rocket attacks that the United States blames on Iran-backed militia groups regularly target bases hosting U.S. forces and the embassy in Baghdad.
*This story was updated at 11:35 p.m. EBL time
