IRBIL: Air defenses were activated as several explosions were heard Wednesday near the US consulate in Irbil, the capital of Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region, AFP journalists said.
AFP journalists reported seeing several drones hovering over Irbil, before being hit by air defenses, resulting in explosions and visible smoke near the consulate, which was a target of repeated drone and rocket attacks during the Middle East war.
These are the first reported blasts near the consulate in Irbil since a fragile ceasefire began in April.
They coincide with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s one-week visit to Washington, where he met President Donald Trump, and also come against the backdrop of renewed military escalation between the United States and Iran.
No group has claimed responsibility for any attacks.
