ARBIL: Iran claimed responsibility for a bullet strike on Sunday on the northern Iraqi megacity of Arbil, saying it targeted an Israeli “ strategic center” and warning of further attacks.
Authorities in Iraq’s independent Kurdish region said 12 ballistic dumdums rained down on Arbil in an are-dawn cross-border attack targeting US interests that slightly wounded two civilians and caused material damage.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards verified they fired the shells, claiming they were targeting spots used by Israel, a top supporter of the US.
A “ strategic centre for conspiracy and rogues of the Zionists was targeted by important perfection dumdums fired by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps”, the Guards said in a statement.
Revolutionary Guards had pledged to retaliate the death of two officers in an attack in Syria they criticized on Israel
There was no immediate response from Israel. Kurdish authorities claimed that the Jewish state has no spots in or anywhere near Arbil, and indicted Iran of constantly targeting the independent region without transnational stricture.
Iran holds considerable influence over the civil government in Baghdad, and Iraq is home to a abating number of US colors who lead a coalition against the militant Islamic State group.
Washington has routinely criticized rocket and drone attacks on its interests in Iraq — including spots in Kurdistan — onpro-Iran groups who demand the departure of the remaining colors. Butcross-border bullet fire is rare.
A pressman in Arbil said he heard three explosions before dawn.
Hack motorist Ziryan Wazir said he was in his auto when the dumdums struck. “ I saw a lot of dust, also I heard a veritably loud noise. The windows of my auto exploded and I was injured in the face,” he said, his head swathed in white reek and a crippled scar running the length of his impertinence.
Sunday’s bullet assault comes nearly a week after the Guards pledged to retaliate the death of two of their officers killed in a rocket attack in Syria they criticized on Israel. Iran backs the government in Syria’s civil war. Israel, the Guards said at the time, “ will pay for this crime”.
The Kurdistan Regional Government indicted Iran of “ targeting (the) Kurdistan Region multiple times” in a statement on Twitter.
The Guards, in their statement, said “ Formerly again, we advise the felonious Zionist governance that the reiteration of any mischief will face harsh, decisive and destructive responses.”
Arbil’s Governor Oumid Khouchnaw told a news conference that along with the hack motorist, a ranch custodian was also injured.
Speaking before Iran claimed the attack, he dismissed as “ unwarranted” any notion of Israeli spots in and around Arbil.
“ We ’ve been hearing for some time that Israeli spots are present,” he said. “ There are no Israeli spots in the region.”
He said the dumdums fell into vacant lots but that structures and homes were damaged. The interior ministry in Arbil said a “ new structure” casing the US consulate in a domestic exurb of the megacity was the target of the attack.
Kurdistan24 TV channel, located near the US consulate, posted images on social networks of its damaged services, with collapsed sections of false ceiling and broken glass.
Washington said there was “ no damage or casualties at any US government installation”.
“ We condemn this outrageous attack and display of violence,” a State Department prophet said.
The US delegacy in Baghdad said “ Iranian governance rudiments” who claimed responsibility “ must be held responsible for this obvious violation of Iraqi sovereignty”.
Saudi Arabia expressed “ solidarity” with Iraq and support for any measures “ to cover its security and stability”.
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said he “ explosively” condemned the attack in the neighbouring country, and had been in touch with his Iraqi counterpart.
Iraq saw a swell in rocket and fortified- drone attacks at the morning of the time. It coincided with the alternate anniversary of the payoff of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike near Baghdad field.
Soleimani, killed alongside his Iraqi assistant Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, headed the Quds Force, the Revolutionary Guards’ foreign operations arm.
In late January, six rockets were fired at Baghdad International Airport, causing no casualties.
