IRGC 'Categorically Denies' Reports of Launching Ballistic Missile Towards Kurdistan Region

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a categorical denial regarding allegations of a new ballistic missile operation targeting the Kurdistan Region. The denial comes in response to widely circulated claims on Saturday evening suggesting that projectiles had been launched from western Iranian provinces toward northern Iraq, a narrative that officials have now clarified was the result of internal military exercises rather than a cross-border offensive.

On Sunday, the Mehr News Agency, a semi-official and IRGC-affiliated outlet in Iran, cited an "informed source" within the Revolutionary Guards to formally refute the validity of the rumors.

The source specifically addressed the reports alleging that missiles had been fired from the provinces of Khorramabad, Ilam, and Kermanshah, stating unequivocally that no such operation against the Kurdistan Region had taken place.

The clarification was deemed necessary after social media networks and certain media outlets began propagating news of an active bombardment late Saturday night, sparking concern among the civilian population in the Kurdistan Region who have frequently borne the brunt of such attacks in recent years.

The genesis of the panic appears to have been a report by the Iranian website "Arshe Online," which had stated on Saturday evening that "the Revolutionary Guards are currently attacking areas in the Kurdistan Region."

This report spread rapidly, creating a sense of imminent danger.

However, the subsequent denial from the IRGC was reinforced by independent confirmation from Iraqi security officials, who provided a logistical explanation for the activity observed near the border.

An Iraqi security source, speaking to the press on Saturday evening, denied the occurrence of any Iranian shelling within the territory of the Kurdistan Region. Instead, the source revealed that the activity in question was actually a series of Iranian military maneuvers taking place strictly within Iranian territory.

"What is happening is maneuvers inside Iranian territory," the source stated in a press statement, further explaining that "Iran is conducting a missile test and is conducting maneuvers within its territory."

The official emphasized that the airspace of Iraq had not been violated and that the narrative regarding the targeting of the region was fundamentally incorrect.

While the current reports have been proven false, the rapid spread of the rumors and the immediate public apprehension highlight the fragile security environment in the region.

This sensitivity is deeply rooted in a violent precedent, as the IRGC has targeted positions within the Kurdistan Region with ballistic missiles and suicide drones on multiple occasions in recent years, often with lethal consequences for civilians.

The most recent and perhaps most emotionally resonant of these attacks occurred in January 2024. In a massive escalation, the IRGC fired 24 ballistic missiles into Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region. 

At the time, Tehran claimed to have targeted a "Mossad headquarters," a justification that was vehemently rejected by the Kurdistan Regional Government and the federal government in Baghdad.

That attack resulted in a tragedy for the local community, as the prominent Kurdish businessman Peshraw Dizayee was martyred along with several members of his family, including his infant daughter, in their private residence. The strike drew international condemnation and exposed the vulnerability of civilian infrastructure to long-range weaponry.

Prior to the 2024 incident, the region suffered a wave of assaults in late 2022. During the months of September and November, the IRGC carried out extensive combined operations using drones, artillery, and missiles. 

These attacks were directed against the bases of Iranian Kurdish opposition parties, including Komala, the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), and the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK). The strikes hit multiple locations simultaneously, including Koya, Prde, and Zergwez.

These operations were explicitly linked to Iran's internal crisis at the time, with Tehran claiming the groups were inciting domestic protests following the death of Mahsa Amini. The toll was severe, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 to 20 people and leaving dozens more injured, including civilians living in refugee camps near the targeted bases.

Earlier that same year, in March 2022, Erbil was shaken by another ballistic missile barrage. The IRGC claimed responsibility for the attack, asserting that it had targeted a "strategic Israeli center." 

However, Kurdish officials denied the presence of any Israeli bases in the region. The strike caused significant material damage to a civilian villa and injured one person. In the aftermath, a high-level security delegation from the federal government in Baghdad visited the site to conduct a forensic investigation.

Their findings conclusively denied the existence of any espionage center in the Kurdistan Region, dismantling the pretext used to justify the violation of Iraqi sovereignty.

The pattern of cross-border violence extends back further to September 2018, when the IRGC launched a precision strike using seven Fateh-110 short-range surface-to-surface missiles. 

This operation targeted the command headquarters of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party in the town of Koya while a leadership meeting was underway.

According to party officials, the attack left 15 people dead and approximately 40 others wounded. The IRGC announced at the time that the bombardment was a response to the operations of Kurdish parties in the border areas.

Given this historical context of unannounced and devastating strikes, the clarification regarding Saturday’s events serves as a critical de-escalation.

Both IRGC sources and Iraqi security officials maintain that the explosions or launches detected were part of internal drills, ensuring that, for now, the skies over the Kurdistan Region remain clear of incoming fire.