President Nechirvan Barzani Says Iran Acknowledges Peshmerga Strike as “Mistake”

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, announced on Wednesday that Iranian officials have admitted to attacking Peshmerga forces by mistake, following a ballistic missile strike that killed six fighters in the Soran area, northern Erbil.

Barzani attended the funeral in Soran for the six Peshmerga "martyred" in the early Tuesday attacks and condemned the strike as “strongly unacceptable.” In a press statement, he said the Kurdistan Region has held discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the incident.

“Iran is investigating the attack and has admitted that it carried out the strike by mistake. We are currently awaiting Iran's final response to the Kurdistan Region,” he added.

Reiterating Erbil’s consistent stance on regional tensions, Barzani stressed that the Kurdistan Region is committed to peace and stability.

“The Kurdistan Region is always a factor for peace and stability in the region, and we will never be a threat to neighboring countries. Furthermore, we will not become a part of this war in any way,” he said.

Barzani also addressed the federal government in Baghdad, urging it to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities.

“The Iraqi government must act as a sovereign nation,” he stated, warning that ongoing attacks by outlaw groups must be halted immediately to safeguard the stability of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

The missile strike occurred early Tuesday, when six Iranian ballistic missiles targeted the Peshmerga headquarters of the 7th Infantry Division and a unit of the 5th Infantry Division.

The attacks killed six Peshmerga and wounded 30 others, prompting widespread condemnation from Kurdish officials, religious leaders, foreign diplomats, the Iraqi parliament, and political party leaders.

The article was updated by Kurdistan24 on March 25, 2026, at 1:45 PM.