Gulf nations, Arab League condemn rocket strikes on Erbil

Mustafa Shilani 2021/02/16 22:46

Rocket strikes in the Kurdistan Region capital of Erbil on Monday damaged a number of houses. (Photo: Reuters)

Kurdistan Erbil League of Arab states Qatar rocket attack Saudi Arabia

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The League of Arab states, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar on Tuesday condemned rocket attacks on the capital of the Kurdistan Region that were launched the night before that killed one and wounded eight others.

"We strongly condemn and denounce the cowardly terrorist attacks that targeted Erbil International Airport, which threatened the security and stability of Iraq and the region, and the safety of air navigation in it, which undermines the efforts of the international coalition to help Iraq fight terrorism," the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote in a press release.

Two rockets fell inside the Erbil International Airport grounds late Monday in an apparent attack on the Kurdistan Region’s capital. A third rocket fell on a busy civilian street in the Bakhtyari residential neighborhood, about 2 kilometers south of the airport.

At the same time, the Qatari Foreign Ministry also denounced the strikes, calling for "a policy of restraint to be followed, and stressed the need to avoid manifestations of escalation in brotherly Iraq in a way that preserves security and stability in the region."

Doha then renewed its firm stated position to reject such "violence and terrorism," regardless of motives and causes.

A previously unknown group calling itself the "Awliya al-Dam Brigades" claimed responsibility for the attack, while relevant authorities are still investigating the incident to confirm who the perpetrators were.

Furthermore, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Abou Gheit condemned the attacks said that he said constitutes a "dangerous escalation" aimed at undermining security and stability in the Kurdistan Region.

In his statement, Gheit stressed the importance of overcoming existing differences between Erbil and Baghdad to unify efforts to face common challenges and address unjust attempts targeting the security and stability of Iraq. In doing so, he stressed that the stability of the Kurdistan Region is an important pillar for the stability of Iraq.

The Secretary-General affirmed the Arab League’s solidarity with Iraq in its war against terrorism and supported the efforts of the Iraqi government and the steps it takes to contribute to restoring security and stability throughout the nation.