Baghdad, July 2026 : A booby-trapped drone was intercepted and destroyed over Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, on Saturday, marking the latest in a series of aerial attacks targeting the city amid rising tensions across the Middle East.
According to a Kurdish security source, the drone was shot down in the afternoon by the air defence system protecting the US Consulate in Erbil. No casualties or damage were reported in the incident. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said security forces remain on high alert following repeated drone threats in recent days.
The latest attack comes after several drones targeted Erbil on Friday, with security officials reporting that six drones were launched towards the city. Five of them were intercepted near Erbil International Airport, while a sixth crashed into a nearby agricultural area before reaching its intended target. The crash triggered a fire in surrounding crops and grassland, prompting civil defence teams to rush to the scene and extinguish the blaze.
Authorities believe that key installations in Erbil, including the US Consulate and the international coalition military base located near the airport, were among the intended targets. Investigations into the origin of the drones are ongoing, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The repeated drone incidents have unfolded against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions following recent military exchanges between the United States and Iran. Security analysts warn that the escalating confrontation has increased the risk of proxy attacks across Iraq and neighbouring countries, particularly against facilities associated with the US-led coalition.
The security situation has also spilled over into neighbouring Kuwait. On Thursday, the Kuwait Army confirmed that “hostile drones” struck the Al-Abdali border crossing along the Iraqi frontier. While no injuries were reported, the attack caused material damage to infrastructure at the border post.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the Kuwaiti military said specialised teams were immediately deployed to assess the damage and secure the area. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units were tasked with clearing drone debris, while security forces were placed on heightened alert to safeguard the country’s borders.
The Kuwaiti military did not identify those responsible for the attack or disclose how many drones were involved.
The latest incidents highlight the growing use of drones in regional conflicts and underscore mounting concerns over the security of diplomatic missions, military installations, and border infrastructure as geopolitical tensions continue to rise across the Middle East.
(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
