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Iran reportedly fired six ballistic missiles at two Peshmerga military positions in the Soran border area of the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Tuesday.
The two-wave overnight attack killed six Peshmerga members and wounded up to 45 others, Iraq's Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs confirmed, calling it a "hostile act" and a violation of KRG security.
The Ministry of Peshmerga said the attacks targeted the headquarters of the 7th Infantry Division of the 1st Sector and a force from the 5th Infantry Division in two separate incidents in the Soran border area northeast of Erbil, near the KRG's frontier with Iran.
Journalist Scharo Bajalan reported on X that the first wave of attacks was carried out using missiles at approximately 1:50 a.m. and a second attack occurred at approximately 2:50 a.m. using at least one missile.
The ministry said six ballistic missiles were used in total.
Casualty figures varied across sources.
The Ministry of Peshmerga confirmed six fighters killed and 30 wounded. A security official speaking to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on condition of anonymity gave a toll of six killed, two missing, and 22 wounded.
Rudaw reported five killed in the two attacks, citing a regional force statement.
A Kurdish-language source cited six killed and 45 wounded in the combined drone and missile attacks.
It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack, though the Ministry of Peshmerga said Iraq's Peshmerga Affairs Ministry confirmed Iran fired the six ballistic missiles, and Bajalan attributed the first wave to PMF forces of Iraq.
The Ministry of Peshmerga condemned the strikes in a statement, saying the attack represented a violation of security in the KRG and caused losses among personnel stationed in the area.
"We possess every right to repel any aggression committed against our people and our land," the ministry said.
The ministry appealed to the Iraqi federal government, the international community and allied partners to respond, urging them "not to remain silent regarding these violations and to put an end to this reckless aggression."
It expressed condolences to the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery for the wounded, and called for the KRG to be kept insulated from broader regional tensions.
The attacks on Erbil add to a growing casualty toll across the region since the U.S. and Israel launched their joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28. As of the latest available figures:
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