2022 Erbil missile attacks

{{Short description|Missile attacks on Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq}}

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = 2022 Erbil missile attacks

| location = Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

| date = 13 March 2022, 1:20{{nbsp}}a.m. (local time, UTC+3)

| target =

| partof = Iran–Israel proxy conflict

| image = Arbil in Iraq.svg

| caption = Location of Erbil

| type = Missile attack

| weapons = Fateh-110

| fatalities = None (per Kurdish officials)

3 killed (per Iranian media){{Cite news |last1=Rasheed |first1=Ahmed |last2=Coskun |first2=Orhan |date=2022-03-28 |title=EXCLUSIVE Iran struck Iraq target over gas talks involving Israel - officials |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/exclusive-iran-struck-iraq-target-over-gas-talks-involving-israel-officials-2022-03-28/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |archive-date=2023-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027114846/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/exclusive-iran-struck-iraq-target-over-gas-talks-involving-israel-officials-2022-03-28/ |url-status=live }}

| injuries = 1 civilian (per Kurdish officials)
7 injured (per Iranian media)

| perpetrator = {{flagicon|Iran}} Iran

{{flagicon image|Flag of the Army of the Guardians of the_Islamic Revolution.svg}} Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

| motive = In retaliation to Israeli sabotage operations in Iran{{Cite web|url=https://english.iswnews.com/23110/irgc-claims-responsibility-for-missile-attack-on-erbil/|title = IRGC Claims Responsibility for Missile Attack on Erbil| date=13 March 2022 }}

}}

The 2022 Erbil missile attacks occurred on 13 March 2022 when multiple ballistic missiles were launched by the Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from East Azerbaijan province, Iran, against the city of Erbil in Kurdistan Region, Iraq.{{Cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-03-12/multiple-rockets-fall-in-erbil-northern-iraq-state-media |title=Iran Attacks Iraq's Erbil With Missiles in Warning to U.S., Allies|access-date=2022-03-13 |archive-date=2022-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313002430/https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-03-12/multiple-rockets-fall-in-erbil-northern-iraq-state-media |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Agencies |first=The New Arab Staff & |date=March 12, 2022 |title=Multiple rockets fall in Erbil, northern Iraq, says state news agency |url=https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/multiple-rockets-fall-erbil-northern-iraq |website=english.alaraby.co.uk |access-date=March 13, 2022 |archive-date=March 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313153657/https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/multiple-rockets-hit-erbil-us-consulate-targeted |url-status=live }}

12 Fateh-110 ballistic missiles were reportedly launched from Iran.{{Cite web |last=Rogoway |first=Stetson Payne and Tyler |title=Ballistic Missiles Strike Near U.S. Base in Erbil, Iraq (Updated) |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44728/breaking-reported-ballistic-missile-attack-near-u-s-base-in-erbil-iraq |website=The Drive |date=12 March 2022 |access-date=2022-03-13 |archive-date=2022-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313153653/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44728/breaking-reported-ballistic-missile-attack-near-u-s-base-in-erbil-iraq |url-status=live }} The IRGC said that the target was Israel's "strategic center" in Erbil. Kurdish authorities reported that among the places hit by the missiles were the city's American consulate and a residential neighbourhood. One civilian was confirmed injured by the attack by Kurdish officials.{{Cite news |last=Ismail |first=Amina |date=2022-03-13 |title=Ballistic missiles hit Iraq's Kurdish capital, Iran's Revolutionary Guard claim responsibility |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/multiple-rockets-fall-erbil-northern-iraq-state-media-2022-03-12/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |archive-date=2022-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313000118/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/multiple-rockets-fall-erbil-northern-iraq-state-media-2022-03-12/ |url-status=live }} According to one US official, the hit targets buildings where a Mossad cell was suspected of operating, according to a conversation with an Iraqi counterpart.{{cite news |last1=Loveluck |first1=Louisa |last2=Horton |first2=Alex |title=After nuclear talks break down, Iran claims ballistic missile attack in Iraq |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/12/irbil-attack-iraq/ |access-date=15 March 2022 |newspaper=Washington Post |quote="One U.S. official, citing a conversation with an Iraqi counterpart, said that the targets included houses where a Mossad cell was suspected to have operated." |archive-date=2 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402170549/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/12/irbil-attack-iraq/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/exclusive-iran-struck-iraq-target-over-gas-talks-involving-israel-officials-2022-03-28/ |title=EXCLUSIVE Iran struck Iraq target over gas talks involving Israel - officials |publisher=Reuters |date=28 March 2023 }}

The next day, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the attack.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-13 |title=IRGC confirms it hit Mossad training centers inside Iraqi Kurdistan |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/470982/IRGC-confirms-it-hit-Mossad-training-centers-inside-Iraqi-Kurdistan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314054952/https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/470982/IRGC-confirms-it-hit-Mossad-training-centers-inside-Iraqi-Kurdistan |archive-date=2022-03-14 |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=Tehran Times |language=en}}

Background

A few days before, IRGC released a statement promising Israel will pay for the killings of Ehsan Karbalaipour and Morteza Saeidnejad, two IRGC colonels killed in an Israeli airstrike in the outskirts of Damascus in Syria on 7 March.{{Cite news |date=2022-03-09 |title=Iran says Israel will pay for Syria attack that killed 2 Revolutionary Guards |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-condemns-israels-attack-damascus-isna-2022-03-09/ |access-date=2022-03-15 |archive-date=2022-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412065602/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-condemns-israels-attack-damascus-isna-2022-03-09/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2022-03-08 |title=Iran says IRGC members killed in Israeli missile strike in Syria, vows revenge |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2022/03/09/Iran-says-IRGC-members-killed-in-Israeli-missile-strike-in-Syria-vows-revenge |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=Al Arabiya English |language=en |archive-date=2022-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313015134/https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2022/03/09/Iran-says-IRGC-members-killed-in-Israeli-missile-strike-in-Syria-vows-revenge |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2022-03-08 |title=شهادت دو تن از پاسداران رشید مدافع حرم در حمله جنایتکارانه موشکی رژیم صهیونیستی به سوریه |url=https://www.isna.ir/news/1400121713931/%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%AA-%D8%AF%D9%88-%D8%AA%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%BE%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%B4%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B9-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%85-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B4%DA%A9%DB%8C |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=ایسنا |language=fa |archive-date=2022-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315183118/https://www.isna.ir/news/1400121713931/%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%AA-%D8%AF%D9%88-%D8%AA%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%BE%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%B4%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B9-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%85-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B4%DA%A9%DB%8C |url-status=live }} Major General Hossein Salami, IRGC Commander-in-Chief and General Amir Ali Hajizadeh attended their funerals.{{Cite web |title=حضور سرلشکر سلامی و سردار حاجی‌زاده بر پیکرهای شهدای اخیر حمله رژیم صهیونیستی- اخبار نظامی {{!}} دفاعی {{!}} امنیتی - اخبار سیاسی تسنیم {{!}} Tasnim |url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1400/12/18/2679639/%D8%AD%D8%B6%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%84%D8%B4%DA%A9%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C-%D9%88-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AC%DB%8C-%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D9%BE%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%AE%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%B1%DA%98%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%B5%D9%87%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=خبرگزاری تسنیم {{!}} Tasnim |language=fa |archive-date=2022-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314140720/https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1400/12/18/2679639/%D8%AD%D8%B6%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%84%D8%B4%DA%A9%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C-%D9%88-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AC%DB%8C-%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D9%BE%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%AE%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%B1%DA%98%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%B5%D9%87%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C |url-status=live }}

The attack

The ballistic missiles struck the target at 1:20 a.m., the same time of the assassination of Major General Qasem Soleimani by a U.S. drone strike in 2020.{{Cite web |title=Iran Hits U.S. Consulate Site in Erbil, Iraq With a Dozen Ballistic Missiles: AP |url=https://news.yahoo.com/iran-hits-u-consulate-erbil-031331324.html |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=news.yahoo.com |date=13 March 2022 |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402065648/https://news.yahoo.com/iran-hits-u-consulate-erbil-031331324.html |url-status=live }}

Reactions

On Sunday, Iraq summoned the ambassador of Iran to protest the missile attack.{{Cite news|title=US State Department denounces ‘outrageous’ Iranian missile attack on Iraq’s Erbil|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-state-department-denounces-outrageous-iranian-missile-attack-on-iraqs-erbil/|website=Times of Israel|date=2022-03-12}}

Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr responded to the attack by tweeting "The territory of Iraq from south to north, and east to west should not be part of conflicts and that Iraq's "involvement" in conflicts was a dangerous precedent, while calling on the competent authorities to immediately send a protest letter to the United Nations and additionally to summon the Iranian ambassador.{{Cite web |title=بعد استهداف أربيل بصواريخ إيرانية.. الصدر والبارزاني يطالبان بالتحقيق في وجود مقرات إسرائيلية بالعراق |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/news/politics/2022/3/13/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%8A%D9%82 |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=www.aljazeera.net |language=ar |archive-date=2022-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403041102/https://www.aljazeera.net/news/politics/2022/3/13/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%8A%D9%82 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=IRGC claims responsibility for missiles towards Iraq |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-701103 |website=The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com |access-date=2022-03-13 |archive-date=2022-03-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312233630/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-701103 |url-status=live }}

The airstrikes were also denounced by Prime Minister of Iraq Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, the United States Department of State,{{Cite web |date=2022-03-13 |title=Iraqi PM Condemns Erbil Attack, Talks to KRG PM |url=https://see.news/iraqi-pm-condemns-erbil-attack-talks-to-krg-pm/ |access-date=2022-03-14 |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418103709/https://see.news/iraqi-pm-condemns-erbil-attack-talks-to-krg-pm/ |url-status=live }} President of Iraq Barham Salih and Iraqi Kurdish former president Masoud Barzani, the latter two of whom described it as a terrorist attack.{{Cite web |title=Iranian Guards claim ballistic missile attacks in Erbil |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/13/missiles-hit-iraqs-kurdish-capital-no-casualties-officials |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en |archive-date=2022-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313112754/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/13/missiles-hit-iraqs-kurdish-capital-no-casualties-officials |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2022-03-12 |title=Iraqi president says Erbil missile attack was act of terror |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2022/03/12/rocket-attack-confirmed-in-erbil/ |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=The National |language=en |archive-date=2022-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405093932/https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2022/03/12/rocket-attack-confirmed-in-erbil/ |url-status=live }}

Israel's officials declined to comment.