Kurdish forces say coalition downed five drones over Erbil

Kurdish forces said US-led coalition forces shot down five drones over Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region, on Friday.

An AFP journalist had earlier seen drones over the city before air defences were activated. Explosions followed, and smoke was visible near Erbil airport, which hosts US-led coalition troops.

Kurdish counterterrorism forces said coalition forces downed five explosive-laden drones over Erbil between 9:32 and 9:45 am. They said no casualties were reported.

The source said Erbil has faced repeated drone attacks since hostilities resumed in the Middle East. Kurdish authorities have blamed previous drone attacks on Iran. The city is also home to a large US consulate complex.

The source said Iraq's northern Kurdistan region has been targeted since the start of the Middle East war on February 28 by attacks carried out by Iran and pro-Iran Iraqi armed groups. It also said pro-Iran groups have not claimed any new attacks since the renewal of hostilities in the region.

The Kurdistan region also hosts exiled Iranian Kurdish rebels, who the source said have been a primary target of missile and drone attacks blamed on Iran.