Reports on Saturday evening indicated explosions were heard in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The area has been targeted by drones frequently over the last eight months and also by rockets in the past. Pro-Iranian groups in Iraq are alleged to use drones and rockets to target US forces at Erbil Airport, or threaten the US consulate in the capital.
According to local media station Rudaw, explosions were heard and it was unclear if drones or rockets had targeted the area. Reports said air defense systems, likely operated by the United States, were activated. These may include a C-RAM and other systems that are in place and have been tested in the past.
Local reporters such as Wladimir Van Wilgenburg tweeted that they heard several loud sounds from the area of the airport around midnight local time. According to Kurdistan24, the US-led coalition confirmed the incident. Kurdistan24 said the attack involved drones, and that the US used C-RAM against the attacking projectiles. It said authorities were investigating the incident.
Other reports said that rockets or other projectiles also targeted the airport area. Kurdish counter-terrorism units were quoted as saying that drones were involved in the attack. Footage posted online appeared to show an explosion.
Footage of recent drone attack that targeted #Erbil airport, air defenses repelled. pic.twitter.com/nXnOciUZuw
— Barzan Sadiq (@BarzanSadiq) September 11, 2021
“International airport has been attacked with a drone tonight, no casualties reported and no further information is available until now,” wrote Kurdistan Regional Government foreign media spokesperson Lawk Ghafuri. “The security forces are investigating the incident and more info will come in coming hours.”
The incident occurred on 9/11, the 20th anniversary of the Twin Towers terror attack on New York City. Pro-Iran groups have frequently targeted the US-led coalition in Iraq over the last several years. Iran also used drones on September 9 to allegedly target Kurdish opposition groups. There was a drone attack on Erbil on June 27.