Washington, March 29 — The United States on Sunday denounced a drone attack on the private residence of Nechirvan Barzani, president of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, and blamed Iran and its militia proxies for the strike. The State Department said it “unequivocally and forcefully” condemned what it called a terrorist assault on Barzani’s home, saying the incident amounts to a direct attack on Iraq’s sovereignty, stability and unity and describing the acts as indiscriminate and cowardly.
Iran, for its part, accused the US and Israel of responsibility. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), citing state-aligned outlets, condemned the drone strike in Duhok, calling it an assassination attempt and a “clear act of terrorism.” The IRGC said the attack fits a pattern of killings of senior Iranian figures that it blames on the US and Israel and alleged such moves seek to damage regional peace and cooperation.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani spoke with Barzani after the incident and ordered an investigation. No group has claimed responsibility for the strike. Analysts note the attack took place amid increasing violence in Iraq, with assaults on Iran-aligned armed groups and Kurdish forces rising as tensions between Iran, the US and Israel spill into Iraqi territory.
The Kurdistan Regional Government confirmed the drone strike on Barzani’s residence in Duhok. Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani strongly condemned the “cowardly” attack and urged swift action to hold those responsible to account.
