Explosion Near Erbil Airport as Drones Downed in Iraq

An explosion was reported Saturday near Erbil International Airport in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, a site that hosts forces from the US-led international coalition.

Witnesses said smoke was seen rising from the vicinity of the airport, while local reports indicated that air defense systems at Erbil Airport intercepted an Iranian drone.

In a separate development, two drones were shot down over the city of Duhok in the Kurdistan Region, with no casualties reported.

Iraq’s Ministry of Defense also announced that a drone crashed inside the Majnoon oil field in Basra province without detonating, causing no damage or injuries.

The incidents come amid a surge in drone attacks since the outbreak of conflict in the region, with multiple sites in Iraq, including Erbil, frequently targeted. Armed groups aligned with Iran have claimed responsibility for several of these attacks.