Iraq's federal government has firmly rejected accusations by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) that groups affiliated with the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) were behind a drone attack near Erbil and called on Kurdish authorities to avoid media escalation and resolve disputes through official security channels.
The KRG's Ministry of Interior on Friday accused PMF-linked groups of launching a drone that crashed in a deserted area near the Kurdish capital the previous night. It warned that the strike was part of a broader effort to destabilise the region and called on Baghdad to take legal measures against the perpetrators.
"These attacks are being carried out by some groups affiliated with Hashd al-Shaabi to create chaos," the ministry said in a late-night statement, using the Arabic name for the PMF.
In a firm response issued on Saturday, Iraqi Armed Forces Spokesperson Brigadier General Sabah al-Numan denounced the accusation as "rejected, condemned, and unacceptable under any pretext"—particularly in the absence of evidence.
"What was issued by the Ministry of Interior in the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, accusing an official Iraqi security institution, is rejected, condemned, and not allowed under any pretext, especially as it came without presenting any evidence. We demand that any such evidence, if it exists, be submitted to official government authorities," al-Numan said.
He added that Iraq's federal security institutions "have repeatedly affirmed that they will not show leniency at the expense of the unity and security of the Iraqi people," stressing that the government "will not hesitate to take strict legal measures against any party that attempts to undermine stability or disrupt security across Iraq."
"The current challenges require cooperation and coordination through official channels, rather than resorting to media platforms with statements and reports that only serve those seeking to discredit Iraqi institutions that work to protect and defend the country's security. Such remarks only justify hostile parties aiming to destabilise Iraq," he warned.
Disputed narratives
While the KRG framed the drone incident as part of a broader campaign by PMF factions to create instability in Iraqi Kurdistan, federal officials warned against politicising such incidents without proof. The KRG also denied widespread media reports that an Israeli intelligence base had been targeted in the attack.
"There are no Israeli bases in the Kurdistan Region," the ministry said, accusing those circulating such allegations of providing cover for aggression against Kurdish territory.
The drone incident near Erbil is the latest in a spate of similar attacks reported in various parts of northern Iraq.
In Kirkuk province, a drone failed to hit its intended target and crashed near Kirkuk Airport. According to local media, security sources confirmed that "the drone fell near Badr neighbourhood, a residential area on Airport Street, and did not cause any damage or casualties."
Meanwhile, in Sulaimaniya province, a drone exploded in the Tasluja area on Friday. The blast occurred close to the headquarters of the PUK's Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG), though no casualties were reported. The identity of the drone operator remains unknown.
On 1 July, Kurdish security sources also reported two intercepted drones—one near the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's (PUK) 70th Brigade and another in the Tasluja area. Though authorities did not assign blame, the incidents have heightened fears of targeted strikes on Kurdish military and intelligence assets.
These developments come amid rising tension between the KRG and armed factions operating outside the control of the central government, particularly those with close ties to Iran. Similar attacks in Erbil in recent years have been blamed on Iran-aligned groups, including a 2022 missile strike by the IRGC, which claimed to have targeted an Israeli spy base—a claim the KRG denied.
Fragile ties
The latest accusations have further strained relations between Erbil and Baghdad, particularly over the presence and conduct of PMF units in disputed territories such as Kirkuk, Nineveh, and Diyala. Kurdish officials accuse PMF factions of undermining regional stability and resisting efforts to bring all armed forces under state control.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani's government, backed by both Kurdish blocs and powerful Shia factions, has sought to maintain a delicate balance. But the fallout from the recent drone incidents underscores the fragility of Iraq's internal security arrangements and the rising threat of asymmetric warfare.
As both sides trade blame and issue stark warnings, analysts fear the stand-off could deepen mistrust and complicate efforts to stabilise a country already grappling with political fragmentation, economic uncertainty, and regional spillover from the Gaza war and other geopolitical flashpoints.