At least nine members of the Kurdish opposition group Komala Toilers of Kurdistan were killed and several others injured after missiles struck the group’s base in Sulaimani province on Friday, according to the group’s officials and Kurdish authorities.
A senior Komala commander said the group’s main headquarters in the Zirgwez area was hit by six missiles. The official said the initial death toll was expected to rise as emergency teams continued to battle a fire at the site and assess the damage.
Later, the group confirmed that nine members had been killed.
Abdullah Azarbar, a member of Komala’s politburo, accused Iran of carrying out the attack, saying the group’s base had been targeted by six powerful missiles.
The Kurdistan Region Security Agency later said a total of seven missiles were launched during the attack. According to the agency, four missiles struck Zirgwez, while others hit the Qasdri area and locations near the village of Grdi Kopani in Sulaimani province.
Authorities said an investigation is underway to determine the full extent of the casualties and material damage.
Local reports indicated that the targeted facility housed around 20 recently joined members of the opposition group. Firefighters continued efforts to extinguish the blaze hours after the strike.
The attack came as several explosive-laden drones were also intercepted over Erbil in the early hours of Friday.
The Kurdistan Region’s Counter-Terrorism Directorate said coalition forces shot down eight drones over the city between 4:19 a.m. and 5:25 a.m. local time, adding that no casualties were reported.
The incidents come amid heightened regional tensions and increased military activity linked to the ongoing confrontation between Iran and the United States.
