Kirkuk Police: Rockets Fired from Outside the City, ‘All Fingers Point to ISIS’
Rocket attacks hit Kirkuk Airport and the Urouba neighborhood late Monday, injuring one. Officials suspect ISIS involvement, possibly in retaliation for recent arrests. Rockets believed launched from Rashad area. Investigations ongoing, security remains on high alert.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) — A series of rocket attacks late Monday night targeted Kirkuk International Airport and a residential neighborhood, prompting investigations and heightened security alerts amid growing suspicion that the Islamic State (ISIS) may have been behind the assault.
According to local security sources, the attacks occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Monday, June 30, 2025. Three Katyusha-type rockets landed near Kirkuk International Airport, while a fourth rocket struck the Urouba neighborhood within the city.
In a statement released following the incident, the Kirkuk International Airport administration confirmed that one of its staff members had been injured, although the origin of the rockets remained initially unclear.
On Tuesday, July 1, a senior officer from the General Directorate of Kirkuk Police spoke to Kurdistan24 correspondent Soran Kamaran. The officer explained that preliminary findings indicate the rockets were likely fired from outside the city.
“All the rockets were of the Katyusha type. Investigations into the incident are ongoing. So far, it’s not yet clear from which area the rockets were launched, and the launch site has not been located,” the officer said.
He added, however, that authorities suspect the rockets were launched from the Rashad area, a known hotspot for ISIS activity. “Although the investigation is still ongoing and no official conclusions have been made, we strongly believe that the rockets were launched from outside Kirkuk, likely from the Rashad area,” the officer asserted.
Multiple sources within Kirkuk's police and security apparatus, when contacted by Kurdistan24, refrained from officially naming any group responsible. Nonetheless, many acknowledged that all signs point to ISIS, especially in light of recent developments.
Just last week, three senior ISIS leaders were apprehended in Kirkuk province. Authorities believe the rocket attacks may represent an act of retaliation for those arrests.
The Governor of Kirkuk, Rebwar Teha, visited both Kirkuk International Airport and the Urouba neighborhood shortly after the attacks. According to Kurdistan24's correspondent, Mohammad Hafiz, the newly elected head of the Provincial Council, is expected to visit the impacted areas later today.
Residents of the Urouba neighborhood expressed shock and concern. Many told Kurdistan24 that this was the first time such an attack had occurred in their area.
One family whose home was directly hit by a rocket shared their experience with Kurdistan24. A member of the household stated that they were all inside the house when the rocket hit the roof but, fortunately, no one was injured. The resident emphasized that their family has no known disputes or affiliations that could have made them a target.
“We have no political or social problems with anyone,” the resident said, underlining the arbitrary and indiscriminate nature of the attack.
As investigations continue, Kirkuk security forces remain on high alert. While no fatalities were reported, the incident has heightened concerns over the lingering threat posed by ISIS cells and their capacity to disrupt the region’s fragile stability.
This latest attack underscores the challenges facing authorities in securing Kirkuk and preventing further escalation, particularly as peace and reconstruction efforts remain ongoing across Iraq's disputed territories.
Kurdistan24 will provide further updates as more details become available.
Kurdistan24 correspondent Soran Kamaran contributed to this report.
