Security

Security forces locate rocket launch site outside Erbil, investigations continue: interior ministry

“Last night’s attack employed the same method and technique used in a previous assault on the Erbil airport,” the ministry said, referring to a Sept. 2020 rocket attack on the capital, which saw six Katyusha rockets fired at the airport.

Halgurd Sherwani 2021/02/16 13:36

A man stands on February 16, 2021 near a fence with graffiti reading in Kurdish "long live Kurdistan", at the scene of a rocket attack targeting Arbil the previous night, Feb. 16, 2021. (Photo: Safin Hamed / AFP)

Kurdistan Interior Ministry Krg Kurdistan Region rocket attack US

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Security forces have located the launch site of Monday night’s rocket attacks on the Kurdistan Region’s capital Erbil, the interior ministry announced, saying investigations are continuing.

The Kurdish capital witnessed a barrage of approximately 14 rockets on Monday, some of which hit the US-led Coalition airbase and a residential area of the city, resulting in casualties both among civilians as well as military personnel.

Following the attacks, the Region’s security apparatuses were able to locate the site of the rocket launch, tracing it to a spot “on the road between Erbil city and Gwer,” in the west of the capital, according to the interior ministry’s statement on Tuesday. The ministry said the rockets were fired from a Kia vehicle, which was also located.

Monday’s rocket fire resulted in one death and the injuries of eight people, according to the ministry’s statement, adding it had also caused material damage to civilian and commercial sites, including homes.

Late on Monday, the Kurdistan Region’s Prime Minister Masrour Barzani condemned the attacks and announced that an investigation had begun.

“I condemn in the strongest terms tonight’s rocket attacks on Erbil. I urge all Kurdistanis to remain calm,” Barzani said in a tweet.

"I’ve instructed security services to start a full investigation and spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on ways to cooperate and identify the outlaws behind this terror attack,” Barzani added.

Internationally, the attack drew widespread condemnation as countries expressed their support to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

“We are outraged by today’s rocket attack in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said following a phone conversation with Barzani late on Monday.

Editing by Joanne Stocker-Kelly