Erbil, Iraq – Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani emphasized the urgent need for the Kurdistan Region to strengthen its air defense capabilities. This comes in response to the ongoing and escalating threats posed by Iranian drones and pro-Tehran factions and militias in Iraq.
Concerns about the withdrawal of US troops and Patriot systems
Masrour Barzani expressed his deep concern regarding the anticipated withdrawal of US forces by the end of September, including both those assigned to training and support missions. He also voiced his apprehension about the removal of Patriot air defense systems from the region, as stipulated in the agreement between the federal government in Baghdad and Washington. In a press statement, Barzani said, “We have not yet had an effective system to protect us, and the withdrawal of these defense systems will undoubtedly endanger us.” He called upon the region’s allies and friends to provide support in building defensive capabilities capable of protecting the citizens of Kurdistan.
Frequent attacks and Iranian-made drones
In an interview with Al-Monitor, the Prime Minister revealed that the Kurdistan Region has been subjected to more than a thousand attacks since the outbreak of the US-Israeli military confrontation with Iran on February 28. He added that the most recent of these attacks occurred last Monday and directly targeted his personal office. Barzani emphasized, “We have never threatened the security of any of our neighbors. They are simply trying to intimidate us, and they may drag us into a conflict that we strongly oppose.” He explained that the drones used in the attacks were Iranian-made Turbo Iron drones launched from Iranian territory. The President of the Kurdistan Region demanded clear and official explanations from Tehran regarding this matter. In a separate context, Barzani praised the Prime Minister, describing him as a trusted friend, and expressed his support for efforts to combat corruption and disarm the factions by next September.
