Missiles target US consulate in north Iraq, no casualties

Missiles were fired reportedly from Iran, and come days after a strike near Damascus, Syria, killed two members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard

Attack comes as negotiations over Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal hit a ‘pause’ over Russian demands about sanctions targeting Moscow over its war on Ukraine

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Kurdish security forces and citizens inspect the site of a car bomb attack in front of the main security forces headquarters in Arbil, Iraq in 2013. Photo: AP

Published: 11:30am, 13 Mar 2022

As many as 12 missiles were fired on Sunday toward the United States consulate in Iraq’s northern city of Arbil, Iraqi security officials said. A US defence official said missiles had been launched at the city from neighbouring Iran.

Officials in Iraq and the US gave different accounts of damage. A second US official said there was no damage and no casualties at any US government facility, but Iraqi officials said several missiles had hit the US consulate. The consulate building is new and currently unoccupied.

The US defence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because information was still coming in, said it was still not certain exactly how many missiles were fired and exactly where they landed.

The Iraqi security officials said there were no immediate report of casualties from the attack, which occurred shortly after midnight and caused material damage in the area. They spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Kurdish security forces and citizens inspect the site of a car-bomb attack in front of the main security forces headquarters in Arbil, Iraq in September 2013. Photo: AP: Photo

One of the Iraqi officials said the ballistic missiles were fired from Iran, without elaborating. The US officials could not confirm the type of missile.