KRG summons Iranian Consul following Tehran’s shelling of border towns

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) condemned Iran's shelling of the Kurdistan Region border, calling on Tehran to maintain friendly relations as neighbors.

On Monday morning, Iranian artilleries heavily shelled Halgurd Mountain and surrounding areas located in the Province of Erbil on the border of Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhilat), injuring one woman as well as inflicting heavy damage to the villagers’ properties and farms.

In a statement, the KRG's Department of Foreign Relations condemned the shelling, highlighting that the KRG maintains peaceful ties with its neighbors, and does not want to be part of issues between the Iranian government and the opposition groups.

“We do not want our villagers and civilians to fall victim to these issues,” read the statement.

The KRG also called on Tehran to stop bombarding civilians and the Kurdistan Region's territory.

The statement also mentions that the KRG has summoned the Iranian Consul General in Erbil to deliver the KRG’s message directly to Tehran.

Iran and Turkey regularly shell the Kurdistan Region's borders claiming they are targeting Kurdish rebel groups in the area.

In the past, the KRG has called on both governments to stop attacking the border areas and causing significant damage to villages in the area.

Editing by G.H. Renaud