UK and US condemn drone strike on Barzani's office in Erbil

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The United Kingdom and the United States on Monday condemned an attack on the office of Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in Erbil, urging de-escalation and the preservation of stability in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. The British Consulate General in Erbil rejected the attack and called for reduced tensions, saying the UK would support efforts to maintain stability in the Kurdistan Region. US Ambassador Tom Barrack also strongly condemned the strike, describing the targeting of the prime minister's office as an attack on a US ally and a direct threat to regional stability. Barrack said Washington would not tolerate such hostile actions and expressed support for Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Zidan's efforts to strengthen Iraq's sovereignty and bring weapons under state authority. The Kurdistan Region's Counter-Terrorism Directorate said the attack was carried out by an Iranian drone. The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Erbil once again emerging as a flashpoint where security, political and international interests converge. No further details on casualties or damage were immediately available.