According to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), several rockets were fired at the US consulate in Erbil, northwestern Iraq, on Saturday night, the reports Jerusalem Post.
Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw said several rockets had hit the area. It is unclear whether the destination is the US consulate or the airport in the city. According to INA, five explosions were heard during the attack. Other accounts report up to nine rockets. According to the Archyde.com agency there were no casualties among military personnel in Erbil, citing government officials.
Videos on social media show several large explosions in the area. The pro-Iranian Sabaraeen News posted several videos of the alleged explosions on her Telegram channel. According to the local television station “Kurdistan 24”, the station’s studio was also damaged by the force of the explosions. On his Facebook channel the broadcaster reports live regarding the attack at night. The images shown show the broadcaster’s devastated editorial offices. The outer facade of the transmitter is said to have been badly damaged.
The attack comes at a time when, according to Iranian representatives, substantial progress has been made in the negotiations for a new nuclear agreement with Iran in recent weeks. The Arabic news channel “al Hadat” tweeted without citing sources, the rocket attack was to be seen as “a reaction to the assassination of leaders of the Revolutionary Guards in Syria”.
There is also a contingent of the Bundeswehr in Erbil. According to the defense blog Eyes Straight Ahead military expert Thomas Wiegold, Bundeswehr sites in Erbil are not affected, according to the Bundeswehr Operations Command. The Bundestag recently extended the mandate for the deployment of the Bundeswehr in Iraq. Around 500 German soldiers are deployed there to train armed forces and security forces in the fight once morest the “Islamic State” terrorist militia.
the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhaimi tweeted in reaction to the rocket attack on Erbil: “The aggression aimed at the dear city of Erbil and spreading fear among its inhabitants is an attack on the security of our people.” He discussed the developments with the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani. “Our security forces will investigate and stand firm once morest any threats to our people.”
Masrour Barzani explains according to the Jerusalem Post: “I strongly condemn the terrorist attack on parts of Erbil and call on the courageous and patient people of Erbil to be patient and to follow the instructions of the security authorities.”
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