Iran Denies Launching Drones at Kurdish Prime Minister's Office

Two Hadid-110 explosive-laden drones targeted the private office of Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and the residence of the head of the Parastin intelligence agency in Erbil on August 17, 2026. The Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Service confirmed the drones were launched from Iranian territory. No casualties or major damage were reported.

Prime Minister Barzani condemned the strikes as a "dangerous escalation and a direct threat to the security and stability of the region." Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered an investigative committee to identify the perpetrators, while Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein requested official clarification from Tehran, warning that the strike created a "dangerous precedent."

Iran firmly denied involvement. Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei characterized the incident as a "highly suspicious development" and a "false-flag ploy" intended to sow discord between Iran and Iraq. Araghchi further suggested that Kurdish authorities should be vigilant against such ploys.

The attacks occurred amid broader regional instability and reports that KRG President Nechirvan Barzani had served as a diplomatic back channel between the United States and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar condemned the strikes, with U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack calling the aggression "unacceptable."