Explosions near Erbil airport as drones target US base

2026-03-23 - 12:29

Multiple explosions were reported Monday in the vicinity of Erbil International Airport, a facility that serves as a base for US military forces in northern Iraq. According to an Anadolu correspondent, air defense systems in the area were activated after suicide drones attempted to strike the airport, with defenses successfully intercepting the unmanned aerial vehicles before they could reach their intended targets. The attack marks the latest in a series of retaliatory strikes targeting US assets in the region since the escalation of the conflict that began Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched a joint military offensive against Iran. No official statement has yet been issued by Iraqi or US authorities regarding Monday's incident. Regional escalation continues The drone attack on Erbil comes amid sustained regional hostilities that have drawn in multiple countries. Since the US-Israeli campaign began, more than 1,340 people have been killed, including Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to Iranian authorities. Tehran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf nations hosting American military installations, causing casualties, infrastructure damage, and disrupting global markets and aviation. Implications for regional stability Erbil International Airport has previously been targeted in such attacks, reflecting Iraq's precarious position as a theater for broader US-Iran tensions. The continued strikes threaten to further destabilize a country still recovering from years of internal conflict. Türkiye, which maintains strong economic and security ties with Iraq and shares a border with the country, continues to monitor the situation closely. Ankara has consistently called for restraint and dialogue, warning that the expanding conflict risks drawing in neighboring states and further undermining regional stability.