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| Drone attack targets Erbil International Airport hosting US-led coalition forces, multiple explosions reported | Drone attack targets Erbil International Airport hosting US-led coalition forces, multiple explosions reported |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Footage from witnesses has shown multiple explosions at the Erbil International Airport in Iraq's Kurdistan region. The blasts apparently resulted from a drone strike targeting the airport which is used by the US-led coalition. | |
| Local media reported, citing Kurdistan Region’s Directorate of Counter Terrorism (CTD), that “explosive-laden drones” targeted the air hub, which is hosting US forces that are part of the multinational coalition against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS,ISIL) in Iraq. | Local media reported, citing Kurdistan Region’s Directorate of Counter Terrorism (CTD), that “explosive-laden drones” targeted the air hub, which is hosting US forces that are part of the multinational coalition against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS,ISIL) in Iraq. |
| Reuters reported, citing witnesses, that at least six blasts were heard in the vicinity of the airport. | |
| Lawk Ghafuri, head of Kurdistan’s foreign media relations, confirmed the airport was attacked “with a drone,” dismissing reports of casualties or damage as false. | Lawk Ghafuri, head of Kurdistan’s foreign media relations, confirmed the airport was attacked “with a drone,” dismissing reports of casualties or damage as false. |
| Ghafuri reported that the explosion was “away from Erbil International Airport’s terminals and territories.” | Ghafuri reported that the explosion was “away from Erbil International Airport’s terminals and territories.” |
| The official also brushed off reports that the attack forced the airport to shut down, calling them “fake news.” | The official also brushed off reports that the attack forced the airport to shut down, calling them “fake news.” |
| Footage from the ground has been spreading across social media, purportedly showing warning sirens going off at a military base housing US troops. | Footage from the ground has been spreading across social media, purportedly showing warning sirens going off at a military base housing US troops. |
| Missile defense systems were deployed to repel the attack, a source with the coalition forces told the media. It is yet unclear if the drones targeting the airport made an impact , the source said, noting that the investigation into the incident is still underway. | Missile defense systems were deployed to repel the attack, a source with the coalition forces told the media. It is yet unclear if the drones targeting the airport made an impact , the source said, noting that the investigation into the incident is still underway. |
| Initial reports carried by the Kurdistan’s counter-terrorism service claimed that the airport came under a rocket attack. | |
| The airport has faced multiple attacks this year, and US officials have chalked up the aggression to militia groups targeting the US service members still remaining in the country. | The airport has faced multiple attacks this year, and US officials have chalked up the aggression to militia groups targeting the US service members still remaining in the country. |
| The strike comes as the US marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, and which the George W. Bush administration used it as a pretext to invade Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in 2001. | |
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