CNN
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A dozen ballistic missiles struck Iraq’s northern Kurdish regional capital Erbil early Sunday morning, native officers mentioned.
The missiles had been launched from the “east outdoors Iraq’s borders” in direction of a brand new United States consulate constructing and residential areas, in line with a press release from the Kurdistan Regional Authorities. The assault broken buildings and houses and one individual was “evenly wounded,” the assertion mentioned.
Iran borders Iraq to its east, although the assertion didn’t title the nation. There was no instant info on claims of accountability for the assault.
Preliminary studies shared on social media had claimed the missiles might have struck the US consulate constructing, however Lawk Ghafuri, press spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Authorities (KRG), mentioned Sunday that solely areas across the compound had been hit.
“Not one of the missiles hit the brand new US consulate which continues to be beneath building in Erbil,” Ghafuri mentioned in a press release on Twitter, attributed to the Kurdistan Counter Terrorism Forces.
A US State Division spokesperson confirmed to CNN there was no harm to or casualties at any US authorities facility and the incident is being investigated by the federal government of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Authorities. The spokesperson added, “We condemn this outrageous assault and show of violence.”
Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Area of Iraq mentioned in tweet Sunday, “Erbil will stand robust in opposition to cowardly assaults. I strongly condemn the terrorist assault on Erbil and name on its resilient folks to maintain calm and comply with the steering of the safety providers.”
Broadcasting was briefly interrupted at an area native tv station, Kurdistan 24, after missiles struck a close-by space, the broadcaster mentioned on its web site.
Town has up to now been caught within the cross-hairs of tensions between Iran and the US. In January 2020, a navy base housing US forces in Erbil was one among two Iraqi bases to come under missile attack from Iran, in retaliation for the US killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani. No US personnel had been killed within the 2020 assault.
A rocket attack on coalition forces in Erbil in February 2021 was claimed by an Iranian-backed militia. One civilian contractor died and a US service member and several other American contractors had been injured.
This can be a creating story, extra to come back…