ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Nightlife along Erbil’s famed Iskan Street on Tuesday evening kept its “never sleeps” reputation, even as the escalating regional conflict continues to send drones and missiles streaking across the skies of the Kurdistan Region.
Young people flocked to the quarter often described as a 24/7 culinary corridor, where the air is thick with the smell of charcoal and grilled meats. Restaurants and street food vendors carried on as usual, and traffic flowed at its normal pace - a show of calm in a city caught in the crosshairs of escalating tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Many residents told Rudaw they were undeterred by the projectiles striking the city in recent days, insisting that daily life must continue and expressing hope that the conflict will soon be contained.
“This is not our war,” said Abdul-Ahad, a resident enjoying the evening on Iskan Street. “It is unfortunate that our skies are being used by the warring sides,” he added.
Since Saturday, the United States and Israel have been engaged in a large‑scale military campaign against Iran, including coordinated air and missile strikes that killed the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several senior commanders.
For its part, Tehran has launched a massive, multi-front offensive involving over 1,200 drones and nearly 500 ballistic and cruise missiles striking targets in all six Gulf Cooperation Council states - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, the capital of the Kurdistan Region has been targeted with at least 70 missiles and drones since fighting erupted Saturday, Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein reported Monday.
Debris from intercepted missiles and drones has been found in several areas east and north of Erbil, as part of a broader wave of attacks across the Middle East targeting what Iran alleges are US interests in the region.
Despite this, daily life has remained relatively normal across the Kurdistan Region, including the capital city,
“We pray to God that the missile attacks and the war between the US and Iran will come to an end, and that prosperity will remain in Erbil,” Hiwa Ali, another visitor of the bustling Iskan Street, told Rudaw on Tuesday evening.
Since gaining semi-autonomy in 1991, the Kurdistan Region has maintained relative security through the Kurdish Peshmerga and a strong intelligence network. Kurdish leaders often describe the Region as “a catalyst of peace and stability,” which has successfully balanced ties with Western coalition forces and regional powers, while serving as a hub for investment and a safe haven for tens of thousands of displaced people.
