A volley of rockets targeting an airbase in Iraq’s Kurdistan region late on Monday killed a foreign civilian contractor and wounded five others and a US soldier, the US-led coalition said. The attack was the first time Western military or diplomatic installations have been targeted in Iraq in nearly two months, after a string of such incidents. The nationality of the dead contractor is still under investigation.
At least two civilians were also wounded and the rockets damaged cars and other property, security officials said, without providing more details. A statement from Kurdistan’s Interior Ministry said “several people” had been injured based on a preliminary investigation. The rockets were launched from an area south of Irbil near the border with Kirkuk province and fell on some residential areas close to the airport. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Iraqi President Barham Saleh condemned the attack, saying in a statement posted online that it marked a “dangerous escalation.” Kurdish authorities cautioned Irbil residents to stay away from targeted areas and remain in their homes. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. was pledging its support for investigating the attack and holding accountable those who were responsible. Attacks targeting Irbil airport are rare, with
