Iraq’s Kurdistan Region on Monday accused Iran of carrying out overnight drone strikes targeting the personal office of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and the residence of the region’s intelligence chief. Kurdish authorities said there were no casualties in the attacks.

Barzani said an investigation by the Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Unit had confirmed that Iran was responsible for the two strikes. The reported attacks come amid longstanding tensions between Tehran and the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, which Iran has repeatedly accused of harbouring Iranian Kurdish opposition groups.

Barzani Condemns Attacks

Barzani condemned the reported strikes in a post on X, calling them “reckless and unacceptable” and describing them as a dangerous escalation and a direct threat to the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region.

He said the attacks would not deter the regional government from carrying out its duties and protecting citizens.

The Kurdish Counter-Terrorism Directorate said two Hadid-110 type explosive-laden drones were launched from across the Iranian border. The drones were reportedly directed towards the private office of the Kurdistan prime minister and the residence of the director of the Parastin Agency.

Authorities did not report casualties in either attack.

Iran-Kurdistan Tensions

The latest incident adds to a long history of tensions between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan.

The Kurdistan Region is a semi-autonomous area in northern Iraq with a large Kurdish population. Iran has frequently accused the region of allowing Iranian Kurdish opposition groups to operate from its territory.

Tehran regards several of these groups as security threats. Iran and Iran-backed groups have previously carried out attacks against targets in the Kurdistan Region.

The presence of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in northern Iraq has remained a sensitive issue in relations between Tehran and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Previous Attacks on Energy Sites

Iraqi Kurdistan has also faced attacks on important energy infrastructure.

In July 2025, a four-day wave of drone attacks on oilfields in the region reportedly halted nearly half of Iraqi Kurdistan’s oil production. The attacks were blamed on Iran-backed militias.

Earlier, in April 2024, a drone attack targeted the Khor Mor gas field, one of the region’s major energy facilities.

Four Yemeni workers were killed and two others injured in that attack, according to the supplied report. Gas supplies to regional power plants were subsequently suspended.

The attacks demonstrated the vulnerability of the Kurdistan Region’s energy infrastructure amid wider regional tensions.

Kurdish Question in West Asia

The latest confrontation is also linked to the broader Kurdish question in West Asia.

Kurds live primarily across Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey and are considered one of the world's largest stateless ethnic groups. Iraq and Syria have semi-autonomous Kurdish regions, while Iran has a province called Kurdistan that does not enjoy the same level of autonomy.

Kurdish political and armed movements have historically sought greater autonomy or self-determination in different parts of the region.

Some of these movements have pursued their objectives through armed insurgencies, contributing to longstanding tensions with national governments.

Regional Security Concerns

The reported drone attacks come at a time of heightened tensions across West Asia, where conflicts and rivalries have increasingly involved drones and other long-range weapons.

For the Kurdistan Region, the reported targeting of locations associated with senior officials raises concerns about the security of its political and intelligence leadership.

The absence of casualties may limit the immediate impact of the incident, but the reported strikes could further strain relations between Iraqi Kurdistan and Iran.

The Kurdistan Regional Government now faces the challenge of responding to the alleged Iranian attack while managing its security relationship with Baghdad and its broader regional partnerships.

What Happens Next

Kurdish authorities have identified Iran as responsible for the attacks based on their investigation, while the incident highlights Tehran’s longstanding concerns over Iranian Kurdish opposition groups operating from Iraqi territory.

Any further escalation could have implications beyond the Kurdistan Region, particularly given its location near Iran and its importance to Iraq’s energy sector.

For now, the reported drone strikes represent another escalation in the already tense relationship between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan, with the security of the region’s political leadership and energy infrastructure remaining key concerns.