Iranian artillery bombards Erbil countryside; no causalities: Official
Drones were circling overhead during the bombardments, according to eyewitnesses in the area.
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iranian forces targeted the Balakayati and Sidakan areas of Erbil province with cross-border artillery bombardments on Thursday, a local official told Kurdistan 24.
No civilian casualties were reported in the immediate aftermath of the bombardments.
The bombardments came following recent threats from top Iranian military officials, who warned that the country would target positions allegedly belonging to the Iranian Kurdish opposition parties.
The heavy bombardments, which continued for half an hour, targeted Barbzeen and Bin Rashkinyan countryside in Sidakan town, Ihsan Chalabi, the head of the town, told Kurdistan 24 on Thursday.
Drones were circling overhead during the bombardments. Local eyewitnesses also videoed what appears to be a small 'suicide drone' crashing into the side of a hill and exploding.
Locals reported seeing ‘suicide drones’ participating in the Iranian artillery bombardment of the Erbil province countryside, which was targeting alleged positions of Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups, this morning.
— Kurdistan 24 English (@K24English) September 9, 2021
📹Footage sent to Kurdistan 24 by local eyewitnesses pic.twitter.com/yRYIknYqBI
While no civilian causalities were reported, the attack spread fear among villagers and farmers in the area, with local families fleeing out of fear of being targeted.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) opposes such attacks on its territory but has also warned groups fighting Turkey and Iran not to use the region as a base for attacks against those countries.