ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Saturday announced a public holiday for all schools and universities from Sunday through Wednesday amid renewed regional conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, with missiles intercepted over Erbil.
The Kurdistan Region’s education and higher education ministries said the decision was taken “in the interest of the general welfare and to protect the safety” of teachers and students across “all educational centers.”
The announcement came after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran earlier Saturday, triggering Iranian retaliation with several Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, Jordan, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, having been affected by the fallout.
Video footage showed Iranian missiles over Erbil being intercepted near the Erbil-Masif road, close to the new US consulate complex, which opened in December and is considered the largest American consulate in the world.
Kurdistan Region Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed said on Sunday that the region would continue its policy of avoiding involvement in regional conflicts, as it did during the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June 2025, when several projectiles were intercepted over Erbil by the US-led coalition, particularly near Erbil International Airport and the US Consulate.