2024 Erbil attack
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| 2024 Erbil attack | |
|---|---|
| Part of Attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria (2023–present) and Kurdish separatism in Iran, Iran-Israel proxy conflict | |
 | |
| Type | Missile and drone attack |
| Location | |
| Planned by |  Iran |
| Target | U.S. Consulate & Erbil International Airport & Harir Air Base Alleged "Mossad spy headquarters" Iranian Kurdish opposition Terrorist targets in northwestern Syria |
| Date | 15 January 2024 11:36 p.m. (local time, UTC+3)[1] |
| Executed by | IRGC |
| Casualties | 4 civilians killed 6 civilians injured |
On the evening of 15 January 2024, eleven ballistic missiles were reportedly launched from inside Iranian territory towards the city of Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region.[2][3] The attack resulted in four deaths and six injuries. The IRGC targeted an alleged "Mossad spy" headquarters,[4] with no official evidence supporting the claim.
Background
On 3 January 2024, a commemorative ceremony marking the assassination of Qasem Soleimani at his grave in eastern Kerman, Iran, was attacked by two bomb explosions. The attacks killed at least 94 people, and injured 284 others. The Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the attacks.[5]
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, pledged a "hard response" to the attack and declared that those responsible "will be the definite target of repression and just punishment from now on".[6]
Attack
A U.S. official said that the attacks did not succeed in targeting anything and did not result in casualties. The attack killed businessman Peshraw Dizayee, the CEO of Empire World, a real estate development company.[1] Erbil International Airport was temporarily closed. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) quickly took responsibility.[7] In addition, coalition forces shot down three drones near the airport.[8] Tasnim News Agency revealed that four ballistic missiles launched from Kermanshah and seven others fired from West Azarbaijan were used during the attack,[2][9] reportedly to be Fateh-110.[10]
The attack occurred at a time when calls were increasing for the departure of U.S. forces from the region.[11]
The IRGC claimed it also struck Islamic State forces in northwestern Syria with four missiles, specifically targeting the perpetrators of the Kerman bombings on 3 January.[12][13] Tasnim News Agency reported that the IRGC Aerospace Forces launched four Kheibar Shekan ballistic missiles from Darkhoveyn District in southern Khuzestan province at midnight, traveling a distance of 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) to hit their targets in Idlib Governorate.[2] These claims were doubted, as Islamic State has no presence in the region aside from an unconfirmed number of covert cells.[14]
Response
An Iraqi government source said that it was not informed in advance of the attack and that an emergency meeting will be held. He described the attack as a flagrant violation of the Iranian-Iraqi agreement. Moreover, the Kurdistan region called on the Iraqi government and the international community not to remain silent regarding the attack on Erbil.[15]
The IRGC said that the attack was a response to the Israeli assassination of "resistance elements".[16]
See also
References
- ^ a b "IRGC strikes 'spy headquarters' in Erbil with ballistic missiles". Rudaw Media Network. 15 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "General Gives Details of IRGC Missile Attacks on Mossad, Daesh Targets". Tasnim News Agency. 16 January 2024.
- ^ "Iran's Guards attack Israel's 'espionage centers' in Iraq, state media says". Reuters. 16 January 2024.
- ^ Katy, Bader (15 January 2024). "Explosions reported near US Consulate in Iraq; Iran claims responsibility". ABC News.
- ^ "Iran's Revolutionary Guard attacks 'anti-Iranian' groups in Iraq's Erbil". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ Leader of the Revolution: Criminals should know that from now on they will be the target of repression and fair punishment Archived 4 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "IRGC attack US consulate in Iraq as tensions between the US, Iran rise". The Jerusalem Post. 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Explosions reported near US Consulate in Iraq; Iran claims responsibility". ABC News. 16 January 2024.
- ^ "Iran's IRGC says it hit alleged Mossad, ISIS targets in Iraq, Syria with 24 missiles". Al Arabiya. 16 January 2024. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ "Iran Strikes Israeli "Spy Headquarters" In Iraq As Regional Tensions Mount". NDTV. 16 January 2024.
- ^ "Exclusive: Iraq seeks quick exit of US forces but no deadline set, PM says". Reuters. 10 January 2024.
- ^ Bechocha, Julian (16 January 2024). "IRGC claims deadly ballistic missile strikes on Erbil". Rudaw Media Network. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ "Iran's Revolutionary Guard attacks 'anti-Iranian' groups in Iraq's Erbil". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ "Containing Transnational Jihadists in Syria's North West". www.crisisgroup.org. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ "Iranian Missile Strike in Erbil Claims Life of Prominent Businessman, Escalates Middle East Tensions". BNN Breaking. 15 January 2024.
- ^ حمله شدید موشکی سپاه به اربیل عراق و سوریه+ فیلم/ سپاه 3 اطلاعیه مهم صادر کرد [IRGC's heavy missile attack on Erbil, Iraq and Syria + video/IRGC issued 3 important announcements]. tabnak.ir (in Persian). 15 January 2024.
- 2024 airstrikes
- 2024 in Iraqi Kurdistan
- January 2024 events in Iraq
- Airstrikes conducted by Iran
- Airstrikes in Iraq
- Military operations involving Iran
- Kurdish separatism in Iran
- History of Erbil
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
- Iran–Israel proxy conflict
- Iran–Iraq military relations
- Iran–United States relations
- Iraq–United States relations