Sky News Arabia reported on Sunday night that the site of the U.S. embassy, which is under construction in Erbil, northern Iraq, was targeted by several rockets. The Counter-Terrorism Forces in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq stated that the attack involved "12 ballistic rockets" launched "from outside Iraq."
Our correspondent noted that one of the rockets fell on the premises of the K24 Kurdish satellite channel, affiliated with the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, but there were no casualties. The local "Kurdistan 24" television channel shared images on its social media accounts showing damage to its facility, located near the U.S. consulate in Erbil, as a result of the attacks. The photos show shattered glass and collapsed ceiling sections.
An American official confirmed to Reuters that there were no U.S. military casualties from the rocket attack in Erbil, Iraq. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department condemned the attack as "shameful," stating that "there was no damage or injuries to any U.S. government facilities." He added that "the incident is being investigated by the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government."
Iraqi Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr commented on the attack in a statement on Twitter, saying: "Erbil is under fire from loss and disappointment... as if the Kurds are not Iraqis."
Since the assassination of Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani and Deputy Head of the Popular Mobilization Forces Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in January 2020, dozens of attacks have targeted American interests in Iraq with rockets and drones. No group usually claims responsibility for these attacks, but Washington attributes them to Iranian-backed Iraqi factions demanding the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces present in Iraq as part of the international coalition against ISIS.
In late January, six rockets targeted Baghdad International Airport in an attack that caused no casualties but resulted in damage to two empty aircraft. The last similar attack in Erbil occurred in September when "explosive-laden drones" targeted the airport.
