🔶 Airstrike on Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, and “downing five drones”

Media outlets have reported hearing the sound of several explosions on the morning of Friday, 2 Mordad (24 July), after air defenses were activated near the Erbil International Airport in Iraqi Kurdistan.

A reporter for Agence France-Presse has reported seeing drones over the city and smoke rising from the area of Erbil airport. The airport hosts coalition forces led by the United States, and a large complex of the U.S. consulate is also located in Erbil.

The Kurdistan Region’s Counter-Terrorism Department announced that international coalition forces led by the United States, between 9:32 and 9:45, intercepted and shot down five explosive-laden drones in the skies over Erbil. According to the department, the attacks left no casualties.

Rudaw, a Kurdish-region news agency, had previously reported tracking at least three drones and published images of one of them catching fire.

Meanwhile, Reuters, citing two sources, reported the resumption of flights at Erbil airport after a brief suspension. According to Reuters, a fire at the site where the drones fell was also brought under control.