A uncommon rocket assault focused Kirkuk in northern Iraq, injuring one. Officers suspect militias or ISIS amid rising regional tensions.
A number of rockets have been fired on the Iraqi metropolis of Kirkuk within the night of June 30. It is a uncommon assault, and it was not clear who was accountable. Up to now, Iranian-backed militias have used rockets to focus on the northern Iraqi Kurdistan autonomous area.
As well as, they’ve used rockets to focus on US forces in Iraq. As well as, there have been current raids towards ISIS in Kirkuk, that means additionally it is believable that ISIS may have carried out the assault.
The assault comes every week after drones focused a number of websites in Iraq. The drones have been possible launched byIranian-backed militias. The drones focused a radar website at Camp Taji north of Baghdad and likewise focused a second radar website on the Imam Ali base close to Nahariyah.
These are Iraqi military bases. The Taji base is an enormous space, and the pinpoint focusing on of the radar illustrates that this was possible an assault ordered by Iran.
Unused Katyusha rockets discovered by the Iraqi Military are seen in Umm al-Izam (credit score: IRAQI MEDIA SECURITY CELL/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)
The assault prompted no casualties
The rocket hearth is extra mysterious. Rudaw media in Erbil famous that “a minimum of three Katyusha rockets focused the disputed northern metropolis of Kirkuk and its airport late Monday, the governor stated, injuring one individual with investigations underway.”
The report stated the rockets landed round 11:30 within the night and so they hit the Kirkuk Worldwide Airport. “We’re ready for the related authorities to hold out their work. [The attack] prompted no casualties. Solely materials harm occurred to a home,” Kirkuk Governor Rebwar Taha instructed Rudaw.
Based on the experiences, air site visitors continues at Kirkuk. “One rocket struck a residential home whereas the household was at house. Its proprietor instructed Rudaw that ‘we have been sitting at house when a loud sound was heard. Thank God, there was no lack of life.’” Abdullah Mirwais, a member of the Kirkuk Provincial Council, instructed Rudaw it isn’t recognized who fired the rockets.
Kirkuk airport is also referred to as Ok-1 and is an airport and a historic air base. It used to have US personnel on the location. If the assault was carried out by Iranian-backed militias, then it suits the sample of assaults on different Iraqi airports within the final week.
If it was carried out by ISIS, then it exhibits ISIS has acquired extra rockets. The Katyusha-type rocket is widespread amongst Iranian militias. They typically use the 107mm mass-produced rocket that may be simply fired from virtually any selfmade contraption.
Iraq should examine and reveal extra particulars. Not like the precision drone strikes, the rocket assault on Kikruk seems much less correct. One rocket hit close to a runway, and one other hit a civilian neighborhood.
Kirkuk is a blended metropolis with Kurds, Turkmen, and Arabs. It’s the middle of a dispute between the Kurdistan area and Baghdad. The Kurds have lengthy claimed Kirkuk as a metropolis and area that ought to be a part of the autonomous area of the Kurdistan Regional Authorities. In the course of the ISIS struggle, Kurdish Peshmerga forces managed Kirkuk from 2024 to 2017.
The Iraqis pushed the Kurdish fighters out in 2017 and expelled the governor and different Kurdish officers. The Iraqis ransacked Kurdish KDP social gathering places of work on the time. Lately, there have been makes an attempt at reconciliation. ISIS cells proceed to function close to Kirkuk.
As well as, there have been current raids on ISIS within the metropolis. Iranian militias have made inroads close to the town as nicely. There’s a present dispute between Baghdad and the Kurdistan area over vitality contracts and salaries. It’s not clear which dispute could also be on the foundation of the rocket assaults.
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