Bloody night in Iraq: 8 rockets fired on US troops in Erbil

Mahmud Mohamadi

Several rockets were fired on the predominantly Kurdish city of Eribl in northern Iraq early on Tuesday, increasing confusion on the Iraqi political scene.

The Interior Ministry in the government of the Kurdistan region said some people were injured because of the rocket attack.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon Spokesman said a civilian contractor was killed in the rocket attack.

Six Americans were injured in the attack, including a soldier, the spokesman said.

Col. Wayne Marotto, spokesman for the US operation in Iraq, codenamed, Operation Inherent Resolve, said indirect fire fell on coalition troops in Erbil during the night.

8 missiles

The Kurdish counterterrorism department said in a statement that eight rockets fell in the vicinity of Erbil International Airport, suspending navigation activities at the airport.

It added that three of the eight rockets targeted the airport directly, including two that fell near the fence of the airport.

The third rocket fell inside the airport, the department said in the statement.

The defense systems of the coalition also intercepted some of the rockets, the department said.

Unidentified perpetrators

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks yet. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Kadhimi ordered the launch of an inquiry into the airport attack.

Meanwhile, the general commander of the Iraqi armed forces also ordered the formation of a joint panel with all concerned agencies to investigate the attack.

Mortar shells

Some Kurdish sources revealed that the missiles launched on Erbil International Airport included mortar shells.

Six rockets were fired near Erbil International Airport on September 30, 2020.

The counterterrorism department in the Kurdistan region blamed militias allied to Iran for launching the attack then.