PAK reports intercepting an Iranian drone in Iraq
The Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) said that one of its headquarters in Iraqi Kurdistan was targeted in an attack overnight. According to the organization, at 23:45, a drone it described as Iranian was heading toward bases of the Kurdish National Army, but it was intercepted.
PAK is one of several Kurdish groups in Iran that oppose Tehran. As The Jerusalem Post reports, this is another incident in recent days: the Komala group has been attacked at least twice over the past week.
Attacks on opposition groups
According to the publication, Iranian missiles and drones have repeatedly struck facilities linked to the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, Komala, PAK and other opposition organizations that maintain camps in autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
A UK government review, citing reports from the region, provides data on nearly 700 Iranian or Iran-linked missile and drone attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan from February 28 to mid-April. About 170 strikes, according to these data, targeted Iranian Kurdish opposition parties. The report also notes that the number of attacks in the region has likely already reached one thousand. In July, August and early September, new strikes on Komala facilities near Erbil were reported.
Coalition of Kurdish forces
On February 22, five groups announced the creation of the Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan. Its founders included the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, PAK, the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), the Khabat Organization of Iranian Kurdistan Struggle, and Komala of Kurdistan Toilers. The Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan later joined the alliance, bringing the coalition to six parties. It stated that its goals are replacing the Islamic Republic, Kurdish self-determination and establishing democratic governance.
Separately, a report by the US inspector general noted that Iran has attacked US diplomatic facilities in Iraq since February. During the reporting period, the US mission in Iraq came under more than 600 attacks; the US consular compound in Erbil, the embassy in Baghdad and the diplomatic support complex near Baghdad International Airport sustained damage.
