ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Drone attacks targeting the Kurdistan Region continued for the eleventh consecutive night early Wednesday as US-Israel war with Iran continues to destabilize the region.
Residents of Erbil’s Khabat district and surrounding areas said they alert relatives and acquaintances in Erbil whenever they see drones heading toward the city so people can take precautions.
Drone and missile attacks carried out by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iraqi pro-Tehran militia groups have repeatedly targeted the Kurdistan Region in recent days, with Erbil remaining the primary focus of the strikes. The highest number of incidents overnight occurred within the borders of the Soran administration in Erbil province.
Drone explosion in Sebiran
At around 1:30 am, a drone exploded in the sky over Sebiran village, northwest of Erbil and near the city's international airport, lighting up the area. Shrapnel from the drone landed on the roof of a house belonging to a resident identified as Shakhawan Omar, who was not at home at the time.
The area has been a frequent target of drone and missile strikes.
An eyewitness who said he arrived immediately after the incident described the moment of the explosion.
“I heard a sound; I was the first person to reach the site. I took photos. The sound of two explosions came from above the house,” the witness told Rudaw early Wednesday.
Residents of the Sebiran said they often receive warnings from relatives living in nearby areas when drones are launched.
“We have relatives in Khabat and Khazir; when a drone comes, they alert us. They sent us a video of the drone,” one resident told Rudaw.
The resident added that the launch sites of the drones are visible and said the repeated attacks have disrupted daily life and prevented them from sleeping. He called on authorities to stop those responsible for launching the drones.
Local resident Nurhat Harki said the constant threat has put civilians at risk.
“Drones, drone debris, and missiles are constantly falling around us, so our lives are in danger,” Harki told Rudaw.
Drones intercepted in Harir
Elsewhere in Erbil province, three drones were shot down early Wednesday in the village of Sarkand Khailanyan in the province's northeastern Harir subdistrict, an area that hosts Harir Air Base, belonging to the US forces.