ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran-aligned groups have denied involvement in recent rocket and drone attacks targeting the Kurdistan Region and territories disputed between Baghdad and Erbil. Several of their leaders and affiliated politicians have publicly denied any involvement, blaming either Islamic State (ISIS) remnants or political scapegoating ahead of Iraq’s November elections.
A string of unclaimed drone and rocket attacks have hit the Kurdistan Region and several disputed territories between Erbil and Baghdad since the start of the week, with no group claiming responsibility. The incidents come amid heightened tensions and diminished air defense capabilities following the Iran-Israel conflict in June, which left much of Iraq’s radar infrastructure inoperable.
A source from Iraq’s defense ministry told Rudaw on condition of anonymity that the radar systems remain severely compromised.
“Out of three radars, two have been taken out of service during the Iran-Israel war. One was in Baghdad and the other in Nasiriyah. Now, only the western sector radar is working, and that's not enough to track these objects,” the source said.
Intelligence units in the Defense Ministry and other security agencies have launched investigations, but the source warned that the lack of functioning radar is delaying tracking and response efforts.
The renewed drone activity follows a US-brokered ceasefire that ended a 12-day war between Iran and Israel. During the conflict, numerous drones and missiles flew through Iraqi airspace, including the Kurdistan Region, where several drones fell or were intercepted, and a renewed series of similar incidents began again on Sunday.
Recent drone and rocket attacks
On Tuesday, two explosive-laden drones were intercepted over Sulaimani province, with one crashing in the Tasluja area. No casualties were reported, according to local officials.
That same day, a drone struck the Darkar camp housing displaced Yazidis about 36 kilometers northwest of Duhok. The Kurdistan Region’s Directorate General of Counter Terrorism (CTD) said the drone was laden with explosives and caused material damage. Civil defense teams from Zakho reported that three cabins at the camp caught fire as a result of the crash. No injuries were reported.
In Kirkuk, Governor Rebwar Taha said three Katyusha rockets struck the city overnight. One hit a residential home, while two others landed between the civilian and military zones of Kirkuk International Airport. No fatalities were reported.
In Salahaddin province, three people were injured on Sunday when an explosion hit the Baiji oil refinery. While some media outlets claimed the site was targeted by 12 drones, Saif Muhannad, head of the Salahaddin provincial council’s media office, said only two drones were confirmed, and there is no evidence of a coordinated 12-drone attack.
“This isn’t the first time the base has been targeted, but there are some armed groups that are dominant in that area,” he said.
Militia groups deny involvement, blame ISIS
Mahdi al-Kaabi, a political committee member of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, an Iran-aligned Iraqi militia group, denied responsibility for the recent attacks.
“We, as the Nujaba movement, are not participating in any way in these recent attacks carried out with missiles and drones,” he told Rudaw, adding that there is coordination between the resistance groups and the Iraqi government to prevent military escalations.
Kaabi suggested the accusations against militias are politically motivated.
“Pointing fingers at us and other resistance front groups is somewhat related to the approaching elections,” he said, referring to Iraq’s upcoming parliamentary vote set for November.
Mohammed al-Bayati, a senior Badr Organization official in Kirkuk, also denied involvement.
“Never do the Popular Mobilization Forces [PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi] and Badr attempt to carry out attacks in that manner, especially at this sensitive time,” he said, suggesting that ISIS militants, who remain active in some regions, may be behind the attacks.
ISIS, which seized large parts of Iraq in 2014 before being territorially defeated in 2017, continues to carry out hit-and-run attacks from remote mountain and desert areas.
In Diyala, Turki al-Attabi, a member of the provincial council, said that no evidence has emerged linking the government-affiliated and Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) to any of the drone or rocket attacks. “If any necessary evidence is obtained, we will inform the public,” he said.
Malik Mohammed contributed to this report.
