ERBIL: An explosion was heard near the international airport of Erbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. Pro-Iran armed groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region, while strikes have also targeted the groups. Erbil is home to a major US consulate complex, while its airport houses military advisers attached to a US-led coalition.
Regular drone attacks by pro-Iran armed groups have usually been intercepted by air defences. Another journalist said debris from the intercepted attack had fallen on cars and homes near the airport, causing some damage, and reported seeing smoke rising over the city. A base in northern Sulaymaniyah province hosting the Iraqi Kurdistan regional armed forces was also targeted overnight by a missile and rocket attack, the regional force said, adding there were no casualties.
In southern Iraq, security officials said a drone had fallen in an oil field but there had been no explosions or injuries reported.
Many oil operations in Iraq have been paused since the outbreak of the war. Overnight, former paramilitary Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) said its positions were targeted. There were no casualties after three US-Israeli strikes targeted its forces in Jurf al-Sakher, it said. — AFP
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