• An unexploded drone from an attack near Erbil, capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region, early on Saturday, June 26, 2021. All photos Directorate General of Counter Terrorism, Kurdistan Regional Government
    An unexploded drone from an attack near Erbil, capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region, early on Saturday, June 26, 2021. All photos Directorate General of Counter Terrorism, Kurdistan Regional Government
  • Three drones struck a house in the village of Bragh near Erbil, Kurdish officials said. No casualties were reported.
    Three drones struck a house in the village of Bragh near Erbil, Kurdish officials said. No casualties were reported.
  • Debris from an explosives-laden drones that struck Bragh, near Erbil. The village is several kilometres from where the US is building a consulate.
    Debris from an explosives-laden drones that struck Bragh, near Erbil. The village is several kilometres from where the US is building a consulate.
  • An unexploded drone and debris from others that struck near Erbil.
    An unexploded drone and debris from others that struck near Erbil.
  • A section of an explosives-laden drone that struck near Erbil. A fourth drone landed in an unpopulated area.
    A section of an explosives-laden drone that struck near Erbil. A fourth drone landed in an unpopulated area.
  • Markings on an explosives-laden drone that struck near Erbil.
    Markings on an explosives-laden drone that struck near Erbil.
  • Debris from an explosives-laden drone that struck a home in the village of Bragh, near Erbil.
    Debris from an explosives-laden drone that struck a home in the village of Bragh, near Erbil.
  • Kurdish officials said the drones bore messages in Arabic. The use of drones is a relatively new tactic in the area.
    Kurdish officials said the drones bore messages in Arabic. The use of drones is a relatively new tactic in the area.

Iraq: explosive drones target area near US consulate in Erbil


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Drones laden with explosives struck close to the capital of Iraq's Kurdish region, where a US consulate is under construction, Kurdish officials said.

The attack near Erbil occurred overnight on Friday, the Kurdistan Regional Government's counterterrorism unit said.

Three drones struck a house in Bragh village and another drone landing in an unpopulated area.

Only two of the three drones that struck Bragh exploded, causing damage but no casualties, the counterterrorism unit said.

Bragh is a few kilometres from where the new US consulate is under construction, according to the KRG-based news agency Rudaw.

The US consulate condemned the assault, saying, "This attack represents a clear violation of Iraqi sovereignty."

US interests in Iraq, including installations that house troops serving in an international coalition to fight ISIS, have come under repeated attack in recent months.

The use of drones is a relatively new tactic. In April, an explosives-laden drone hit the coalition’s Iraq headquarters in the military part of the airport at Erbil.

  • Members of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a parade to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation's founding at Camp Ashraf in Diyala province. AFP
    Members of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a parade to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation's founding at Camp Ashraf in Diyala province. AFP
  • Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi attends a parade marking the seventh anniversary of the Popular Mobilisation Forces. AFP
    Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi attends a parade marking the seventh anniversary of the Popular Mobilisation Forces. AFP
  • Mustafa Al Kadhimi told members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces: 'I esteem your sacrifices, and the sacrifices of the Iraqi armed forces' in fighting ISIS. He warned against sedition within PMF but did not elaborate. AFP
    Mustafa Al Kadhimi told members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces: 'I esteem your sacrifices, and the sacrifices of the Iraqi armed forces' in fighting ISIS. He warned against sedition within PMF but did not elaborate. AFP
  • Members of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a parade to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation's founding at Camp Ashraf in Diyala province. AFP
    Members of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a parade to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation's founding at Camp Ashraf in Diyala province. AFP
  • Members of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a parade to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation's founding at Camp Ashraf in Diyala province. AFP
    Members of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a parade to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation's founding at Camp Ashraf in Diyala province. AFP
  • Members of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a parade to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation's founding at Camp Ashraf in Diyala province. AFP
    Members of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a parade to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation's founding at Camp Ashraf in Diyala province. AFP
  • Members of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a parade to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation's founding at Camp Ashraf in Diyala province. AFP
    Members of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a parade to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation's founding at Camp Ashraf in Diyala province. AFP
  • Members of Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a military parade in Diyala province to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation. Reuters
    Members of Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a military parade in Diyala province to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation. Reuters
  • Members of Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a military parade in Diyala province to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation. Reuters
    Members of Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a military parade in Diyala province to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation. Reuters
  • Members of Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a military parade in Diyala province to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation. Reuters
    Members of Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a military parade in Diyala province to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation. Reuters
  • Members of Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a military parade in Diyala province to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation. Reuters
    Members of Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a military parade in Diyala province to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation. Reuters
  • Members of Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a military parade in Diyala province to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation. Reuters
    Members of Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces take part in a military parade in Diyala province to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation. Reuters

In May, an explosive drone hit the Ain Al Asad airbase housing US troops in western Iraq, and three more struck near Baghdad International Airport, where US soldiers are based, on June 9.

The US blames Iran-linked Iraqi armed groups for the attacks, including components of the state-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces paramilitary created to fight ISIS.

Later on Saturday, thousands of members of PMF staged a parade to mark the seventh anniversary its formation. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi, the country's commander-in-chief, presided over the parade.

“We affirm our work is being done under the flag of Iraq, and the protection of its land and its people is our duty,” he tweeted during the parade in the eastern province of Diyala.

It featured Russian-made tanks, boats and rocket launchers. Some vehicles were carrying what appeared to be drones.

Yazidi, Christian and Sunni militias in the PMF took part in the ceremony.

Since taking office in May last year, Mr Al Kadhimi has tried to rein in the influence of the Iran-backed Shiite militias that dominate the PMF.

His government was recently forced to back down in a stand-off following the arrest of PMF commander Qassem Musleh on terrorism charges.

He was arrested on May 26 by police intelligence on suspicion of ordering the killing of Ihab Al Wazni, a pro-democracy activist shot dead in the southern city of Karbala earlier that month.

Mr Musleh was released after two weeks, in a move that  laid bare the limits of the government’s ability to bring militia leaders to account.

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1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

10. Reduce inequality  within and among countries

11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects

14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

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