Before dawn on Tuesday, six Iranian ballistic missiles struck a Peshmerga base in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, resulting in six fatalities and 30 injuries, according to the Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs. This incident represents the first recent direct accusation against Tehran for orchestrating such an assault.
In a statement , the ministry said "Iranian ballistic missiles" struck the headquarters of Area Command One in the Soran administration of Erbil province. The ministry added that six missiles were fired in two separate strikes targeting units from the 7th and 5th Infantry Divisions. Iran has yet to formally acknowledge responsibility for the attacks.
This latest strike follows a surge of drone and missile attacks on Peshmerga positions since late February, unfolding alongside the launch of a joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran . While Iraqi armed groups aligned with Tehran have taken credit for earlier incidents, officials emphasise that this is the first time Iran itself stands directly accused of targeting Kurdistan Region forces.
The ministry condemned the strike as a blatant act of hostility and reaffirmed its right to defend its people and territory against any aggression. It urged Baghdad and international partners to intervene and help prevent further violations.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani described the strike as "direct hostile aggression" against Iraq's sovereignty and called on the federal government and the international community to take steps to deter further attacks. He extended condolences to the families of those killed and wished a swift recovery for the injured. Barzani further stressed that the Kurdistan Region maintains a policy of neutrality and poses no threat to neighbouring states.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani echoed the condemnation, pledging that the regional government would take all necessary measures to resist what he described as persistent hostility toward the Kurdistan Region.
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) president, Masoud Barzani, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Jamal Rasheed, and many other Kurdish and Iraqi leaders also condemned the attack. Regional officials say the targeted sites are nestled deep in the rugged Soran mountains, right against the Iranian border, where Peshmerga forces remain steadfast on crucial security missions.
Ahmed al-Adhdad, a Geneva-based Iraqi political analyst, speaking to The New Arab from Geneva, said the strike reflects deeper structural tensions in Iraq's security framework. He pointed to weak coordination between the KRG and the federal authorities in Baghdad, as well as longstanding disputes over autonomy and sovereignty.
Al-Adhdad added that Iran has repeatedly targeted the Kurdistan Region due to the presence of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups, including the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran and Komala, which Tehran considers a direct threat to its national security. He also cited the presence of a US base in Erbil and the difficulty of controlling the mountainous border as factors contributing to recurring security breaches.
He said such strikes are not only military actions but also serve as political pressure on both Erbil and Baghdad to curb opposition activity and tighten border control, noting that Iran remains wary of potential US and Israeli influence in the region.
Iranian Kurdish opposition parties have consistently stated that they do not use the Kurdistan Region as a base for attacks against Iran . The KRG has consistently denied Iranian allegations that Erbil hosts Israeli and American intelligence bases.