Erbil missile strike kills 6 Peshmerga as Iran widens retaliation

2026-03-24 - 10:20

At least six Peshmerga fighters lost their lives and 30 more sustained injuries after Iranian ballistic missiles struck military installations in Iraq’s northern Erbil province on Tuesday. The Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs confirmed that six projectiles targeted the headquarters of the 1st Region’s 7th Infantry Division and the 5th Infantry Division in the Soran district, located east of Erbil. A direct hit on military positions In a strongly worded statement, the ministry described the attack as a “hostile and treacherous act” and a clear breach of “the principles of good neighborliness.” Expressing disbelief at the assault, officials noted: “We did not expect such a cowardly response to the Kurdish region’s peaceful stance.” The statement added that “betrayal and oppression are short-lived, and the will for peace will prevail,” while urging the federal government in Baghdad and the international community to take a firm stand against further aggression. Wider conflict spills across borders The missile strike is the latest in a series of retaliatory actions by Tehran since the outbreak of hostilities on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran. That offensive has claimed over 1,340 lives, including Iran’s then-supreme leader. In response, Iran has carried out drone and missile attacks not only against Israeli territory but also against locations in Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting American military assets, causing significant casualties and infrastructure damage while disrupting global energy markets and aviation. Türkiye’s close watch on northern Iraq Ankara has been closely monitoring the volatile situation along its southeastern border, where instability in northern Iraq poses direct security concerns. Türkiye has consistently advocated for restraint and dialogue, warning that the spillover of the Iran conflict into Iraqi territory threatens regional stability. As a key actor with influence in both Baghdad and Erbil, Türkiye continues to underscore the importance of safeguarding Iraq’s sovereignty and preventing its territory from becoming a theater for external military confrontations.