Rockets, believed to be manufactured by Iran, hit a United States army base and a Kurdish news channel in Northern Iraq.
The attack happened in the early hours on Sunday when, at minimum, a dozen “Iranian-produced ballistic missiles” hit the base, Governor Omed Khoshna said, The Daily Mail reported.
He said it was not clear whether the missiles were targeting the American consulate at the site, or the airport in the city.
Kurdish and U.S. officials confirmed that there were no casualties in what they’re calling an ‘outrageous attack,’ adding that no group has immediately claimed responsibility for the strike.
U.S. Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie had warned about attacks in the area back in December, when he told The Associated Press that while American forces in Iraq switched to a non-combat role last year, Iran and its proxies ‘still want American troops to leave the country.’
As a result, McKenzie said, ‘that may trigger more attacks’ on American bases.
“We are looking into the reported attack near Erbil,” a Pentagon spokesperson said to Axios.
A spokesperson for the State Department said that the attack “is being investigated by the government of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government.”
“We condemn this outrageous attack and display of violence,” they said.
Iran responded to the incident.
“Following the recent crimes of the fake Zionist regime and the previous announcement that the crimes and evils of this infamous regime will not go unanswered; Last night, the ‘Strategic Center of Conspiracy and Evil of the Zionists’ was targeted by powerful and point-to-point missiles of the IRGC,” Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said, The Jerusalem Post reported.
It said that any further “evil” done by Israel would face a “harsh, decisive and destructive response.”
Shiite cleric and Iraqi politician Muqtada al-Sadr responded to the attack on Twitter.
“In the name of God, Irbil is under the fire of loss and betrayal, and under pain of starvation, as if the Kurds were not Iraqis. Rather, they are the lung of Iraq and its indivisible part,” he said.
“Erbil will not kneel except for moderation, independence and sovereignty. Peace and love for you, Erbil, and you Kurds, and patience until the achievement of: #National_Majority_Government,” he said.
Others on Twitter blamed President Joe Biden.
“Biden’s weakness and the predatory response seems contagious! BREAKING: Sky News Arabia is reporting that multiple long-range ballistic missiles have been fired targeting the U.S. consulate in Erbil, Iraq,” Donald Trump Jr. said on Twitter.
“According to a senior US official, the missiles fired toward the US Consulate in Erbil emanated from Iran. Multiple missiles were fired. None hit the Consulate. No Americans were injured. US personnel do work and live in the vicinity of the Consulate,” Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin said.
“All of our enemies are emboldened by Biden’s weakness. Iran fired missiles toward our US consulate in Erbil today. Dictators and terrorists worldwide know that he’s unfit for office so they’re testing how far they can go. Bottom line: Joe Biden is a national security threat,” Republican congressional candidate Robby Starbuck said in a tweet.
“Poland refuses to send Jets, Saudi Arabia hasn’t answered any of our calls, and Iran just bombed our consulate in Erbil. But at least we got equity training in our military. The Biden presidency,” congressional candidate Josh Barnett said.
“What the hell is going on in Erbil, Iraq? When will people realize that a weak US president invites aggression from all over,” former Marine Matthew Betley said.
“Iran launched on the US Consulate in Erbil, Iraq. Make no mistake, this is the Mullahs and IRGC telling Dementia Man that he’s their bitch,” John Cardillo said.
Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio explained more.
“#Iran has been launching attacks against Americans in #Iraq for months via proxies in Shia militias Their goal is to accelerate a complete military & diplomatic U.S. departure from Iraq Awaiting confirmation that tonight’s launch against #Erbil was a direct attack,” he said.
