Kurdistan PM office drone attack prompts Iraq probe

Iraq ordered an investigation into an overnight drone attack on the office of Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, after Kurdish authorities blamed Iran and Tehran called the incident suspicious.

The office of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said he directed the formation of a committee to identify the sources and launch points of the attack on Barzani's office.

Kurdish authorities said two drones also targeted the home of the autonomous region's intelligence chief. Barzani said on X that an investigation by the Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Unit found that his personal office and the home of the head of the Security and Intelligence Agency were targeted by Iranian drone attacks.

The regional Counter-Terrorism Directorate said there were no casualties. It said two Hadid-110 explosive-laden drones were launched from across the Iranian border toward Barzani's private office and the residence of the Parastin Agency director.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei condemned the attack and called it a highly suspicious development, according to Iran's IRNA state news agency. Iran's foreign ministry said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone call with his Iraqi counterpart on Monday.

“Nothing justifies the reckless attack on PM Barzani's office. Kurdish friends should be vigilant against false-flag ploys to sow discord between neighbours,” Araghchi said on X.

US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Iraq, Tom Barrack, said the United States strongly condemned the attack on Barzani and called it “a direct threat to regional stability”. He said Washington fully supported Zaidi's efforts to restore Iraqi sovereignty and ensure weapons and security forces remain under the Iraqi state's authority.

Under US pressure, Iraq has given pro-Iran armed groups in the country until September 30 to disarm, coinciding with the end of the US-led anti-jihadist coalition's mission. Some armed groups have said they will cooperate, while others reject discussing disarmament under US pressure.

The Kurdistan region hosts US troops, foreign oil firms and rebels exiled from Iran. Regional authorities say the area has been targeted with more than 1,000 attacks by Tehran and pro-Iran armed groups inside Iraq since the start of the Middle East war.