Iran drones target Kurdish leaders after Trump used them as backchannel to IRGC; US condemns attack
Two drones launched from Iranian territory targeted the office of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and the residence of the region’s security chief early Monday, with no casualties reported, Kurdish authorities said.The strikes came after reports revealed that Nechirvan Barzani, president of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, had been used by the Donald Trump administration as a secret channel to communicate with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during efforts to negotiate an end to the war.The Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Service said the drones, identified as Hadid-110 aircraft, targeted Barzani’s private office and the residence of the head of the region’s Security and Intelligence Agency. The agency said the drones were launched from Iranian territory.Barzani condemned the attack as “reckless and unacceptable”, calling it a “dangerous escalation” and a direct threat to the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region. He said the attacks would not deter the regional government from carrying out its duties and protecting its citizens.The attack comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan, which Tehran has repeatedly accused of harbouring Iranian Kurdish opposition groups. Kurdish authorities have denied allowing their territory to be used to threaten Iran.
Attack comes after US used president as Iran backchannel
According to an Axios report, US officials approached Nechirvan Barzani in May after Washington became uncertain whether Iran’s official negotiators had the backing of the powerful IRGC. Barzani subsequently relayed messages between US officials and IRGC commander general Ahmad Vahidi.A spokesperson for Nechirvan Barzani’s office separately confirmed that he had played a role in relaying messages between Washington and Tehran and in efforts to ease tensions. The spokesperson said the Kurdistan Region had consistently advocated dialogue and negotiations.The backchannel report adds significance to Monday’s attack, although there is no evidence that the drone strike was linked to Iraqi-Kurdistan’s role in the US-Iran channel.
US condemns attack
US Ambassador to Iraq Tom Barrack condemned the attack, calling it a “direct threat to regional stability”.“Such aggression against our trusted Kurdish allies is unacceptable,” Barrack said, adding that Washington would not “condone or tolerate” the hostilities.
