Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Leader's Residence Attacked; Macron Warns of Rising Risk of Escalation

[新华社微特稿] The residences of the current and former presidents of the Kurdish Autonomous Region in northern Iraq were attacked by drones on the 28th and 29th, with no reports of casualties so far. French President Macron warned that efforts must be made to prevent Iraq from being drawn into this round of conflict in the Middle East, which could further escalate the situation.

The residence of Kurdish President Nechirvan Barzani was attacked by a drone on the 28th. Some reports indicate that the target was Barzani’s official residence, while others reported it was his private home.

U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Thomas Pigott issued a statement condemning this “act of terrorism.” The Iraqi central government stated it would launch an investigation.

In the early hours of the 29th, the residence of former Kurdish Regional President and current leader of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party, Masoud Barzani, was also attacked by a drone. Security sources told Reuters that the Kurdistan Region activated its air defense system and shot down the drone.

Currently, no organization has claimed responsibility for these two attacks.

After a phone call with Nechirvan Barzani on the 28th, Macron posted on social media platform X, warning: “All means must be employed to prevent Iraq from being drawn into the current escalation.”

According to reports from Iranian media, earlier this week, the Iranian military launched missile strikes on the U.S. base located at Erbil International Airport in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, as well as on Israeli-backed “separatist strongholds.” The reports cited an announcement from the Iranian military stating that the targeted area is one of the important logistical support and operational command centers for U.S. forces, housing various military equipment, and is also a “separatist stronghold” that undermines the security of Iran’s western and northwestern borders. The announcement did not specify any casualties or details of the damage caused by the strikes.

On the 24th, the Kurdistan Regional Government issued a statement saying that a military base of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces located in the regional capital Erbil was attacked by six Iranian missiles that day, resulting in six deaths and 30 injuries.

Iranian Kurdish anti-government armed groups have long been entrenched in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, engaging in cross-border attacks against Iranian security forces and are considered a “pawn” used by the U.S. and Israel to contain Iran. At the beginning of this round of regional hostilities, U.S. President Trump “encouraged” Iranian Kurdish anti-government forces within Iraq to cross into Iran, even “requesting” that the Kurds in Iraq cooperate with U.S. military actions against Iran. (End) (Wang Hongbin)