Explosions were heard and smoke was seen rising from near a U.S. military installation at Erbil International Airport in northern Iraq, following what U.S. officials described as an Iranian drone strike.
According to a senior U.S. official cited by international media, Iranian drones struck Erbil International Airport, which hosts both civilian flights and U.S.-led coalition forces. Local reports and footage showed plumes of smoke rising from the vicinity of the airport after the explosions.
Erbil’s airport area includes facilities used by American and coalition troops. While the strike appeared to impact the area, there were no immediate reports of confirmed casualties or large-scale destruction. U.S. air defense systems reportedly intercepted several incoming drones, reducing potential damage.
Regional armed groups aligned with Iran claimed responsibility for the attack, describing it as part of broader retaliation linked to escalating hostilities in the region. Iraqi Kurdish authorities said investigations were underway and urged all parties to avoid further escalation on Iraqi territory. The incident marks another expansion of the conflict beyond direct Iran–Israel exchanges, as U.S.-linked facilities in Iraq increasingly come under threat.
