Drone attack targets Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Barzani's office and security chief's residence

The office of Iraqi Kurdistan's prime minister, Masrour Barzani, was targeted in a drone attack on Monday, according to the region's security authorities. The residence of the head of the Kurdistan Region's security and intelligence directorate was also hit in the same incident. No casualties were reported, and the authorities said the drones were launched from Iranian territory.

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The Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Service said two Hadid-110 drones were used in the attack, according to a statement cited by Iraq's state news agency. The agency did not say whether the drones struck their intended targets, but it confirmed that no one was injured. Barzani condemned the attack in a post on X, describing it as illegitimate and unacceptable.

The incident adds to long-running tensions between the Kurdistan Region and Iran, which has repeatedly accused the semi-autonomous Iraqi region of harbouring Iranian Kurdish opposition groups. Kurdish authorities deny allowing their territory to be used to threaten neighbouring countries. The latest attack is likely to intensify concern over cross-border security risks in a region that has often been caught between local autonomy and wider regional disputes.

The Kurdistan Region of Iraq has its own security and intelligence structures, and the prime minister's office is one of the most sensitive political targets in the semi-autonomous administration. An attack on that office, together with the residence of a senior security official, carries significance beyond the immediate damage because it touches both political leadership and internal security command. Even without casualties, such incidents can affect confidence in the region's ability to deter external threats.

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The use of drones in the attack also reflects a broader pattern in the region, where unmanned aircraft have become a recurring tool in politically charged security incidents. The statement that the drones were launched from Iranian territory will likely deepen scrutiny of the border area and of the groups accused of operating across it. It also raises questions about whether the attack was intended as a warning, a show of force, or part of a wider campaign of pressure.

What remains unclear is whether the drones successfully struck the intended locations and who directed the operation. The authorities have not provided further details on the extent of any damage, and there has been no public claim of responsibility. The main developments to watch are any formal response from Baghdad, any reaction from Tehran, and whether Kurdish security forces report further incidents or retaliatory measures.

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