PM Barzani discusses Erbil rocket attack with French foreign minister in phone call
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region’s Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in a phone call with French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian discussed the latest rocket attack on the capital Erbil that killed two civilians.
“Pleasure speaking today with my friend @JY_LeDrian. We discussed the recent terror attack on Erbil and the ongoing investigation,” premier Barzani tweeted on Thursday.
On Feb. 15, the Kurdish capital witnessed a barrage of approximately 14 107 mm rockets, some of which hit the US-led Coalition base at Erbil International Airport and a residential area of the city.
Read More: Several rockets land outside Erbil International Airport in late night attack
The incident drew immediate international and domestic outcry, describing the attacks as “terrorist” acts intended to jeopardize the stability of the Kurdistan Region.
France, among other nations, condemned the attack and the consul general in Erbil, Olivier Decottignies, tweeted his support for the city in Kurdish, saying “Biji Hawler,” or “Viva Erbil.”
France is a member of the Coalition against ISIS and French troops have trained Peshmerga forces in the Kurdistan Region.
“We very much value the strong and longstanding friendship between the peoples of Kurdistan and France,” Barzani said on Thursday.
Pleasure speaking today with my friend @JY_LeDrian. We discussed the recent terror attack on Erbil and the ongoing investigation. We very much value the strong and longstanding friendship between the peoples of Kurdistan and France -mb. pic.twitter.com/hVgWDn0P8P
— Masrour Barzani پابەندین# (@masrour_barzani) February 25, 2021
The attack killed two people and injured eight others, according to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), which said the rockets had also caused material damage to civilian and commercial sites in the city.
Read More: Attack on Coalition is assault on Peshmerga, Kurdish people: Peshmerga ministry
Editing by Joanne Stocker-Kelly