SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) co-leader Bafel Talabani on Friday condemned a drone attack on Erbil airport, saying interference in the Kurdistan Region’s stability is “unacceptable”.
“The repeated attacks on the capital are concerning and interference in the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region is unacceptable in any way,” Talabani said in a statement.
“The protection of our Region’s security is our main task, so the PUK is showing its full support to bring the perpetrators to justice,” he added.
The PUK co-leader also said the Kurdistan Region would continue to coordinate with U.S.-led Coalition forces who are “tirelessly” helping the Region in the fight against terrorism.
An explosives-laden drone targeted a base hosting U.S.-led Coalition troops at Erbil airport on Wednesday night, without causing casualties.
Coalition spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto said the drone landed on a storage hanger at Erbil airport base and confirmed there were no injuries, according to AP.
Spokesman of the U.S. State Department Ned Price said on Thursday that the United States was “outraged” by the attacks in Iraq.
“The Iraqi people have suffered for far too long from this kind of violence and violation of their sovereignty,” Price said in a tweet.
In a joint statement on Thursday, the Iraqi and Kurdish ministries of interior said Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi had ordered the formation of an investigative committee to find and detain perpetrators of the attack.
“The last night’s terrorist attacks carried out in Erbil and Mosul aimed to undermine Iraq’s security and sow discord,” the ministries said.
Shortly before the attack in Erbil, at least two rockets landed on and near a base to the west of the city that hosts Turkish forces. A Turkish soldier was killed and a woman was wounded in the attack.
“While we condemn these criminal acts, we confirm that these attacks come in a desperate attempt to strike the positive developments in the relationship between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government,” the ministry added, according to state news agency INA.
“Coordination and assistance between both sides will continue to ensure security and safety of citizens and to confront attempts to destabilize security,” they stated.
