Iraq Investigates Drone Attack on Kurdistan Prime Minister's Office; Iran Blamed

Iraq has launched an investigation into a drone attack that struck the office of the Iraqi Kurdistan prime minister and the home of the region's intelligence chief overnight. Kurdistan's authorities have directly accused Iran of orchestrating the assault, asserting that the drones were launched from Iranian territory. This accusation escalates existing tensions between the autonomous region and Tehran.

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Nothing justifies the reckless attack on PM Barzani's office. Kurdish friends should be vigilant against false-flag ploys to sow discord between neighbors

The Kurdistan region, which hosts U.S. troops and foreign oil companies, has been a frequent target of attacks by Iran and Iran-backed militias since the start of the current Middle East conflict. These attacks, numbering over 1,000, have targeted both Iranian rebels exiled in the region and, at times, U.S. interests. Drones have been intercepted over Erbil, the Kurdistan capital, on multiple occasions.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has directed the formation of an investigative committee to identify the attack's sources and launch points. Meanwhile, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei condemned the attack, calling it a "highly suspicious development that requires vigilance." Iran's top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, spoke with his Iraqi counterpart, emphasizing that "Nothing justifies the reckless attack on PM Barzani's office" and urging Kurdish friends to be "vigilant against false-flag ploys to sow discord between neighbors." U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy to Iraq, Tom Barrack, also condemned the attack, calling it "unacceptable and a direct threat to regional stability."

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we strongly condemn the attack on our friend and valued Kurdish partner Barzani, adding that the aggression was "unacceptable and a direct threat to regional stability.

This incident unfolds as Iraq faces pressure from the United States to disarm powerful Iran-backed armed factions operating within its borders by September 30, coinciding with the end of the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition's mission. Many of these factions have gained significant political and financial influence since the 2003 U.S. invasion and the subsequent fight against ISIS. They have consistently called for the withdrawal of American troops and have frequently targeted bases hosting them. While some groups have agreed to hand over weapons to the state, others remain resistant to disarming under U.S. pressure.

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describing it as a highly suspicious development that requires vigilance and careful attention