The KRG Caretaker Government issues a statement declaring: "We condemn the attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran and call on the federal government and the international community to put an end to them."

The official statement from the Presidency of the Caretaker Government's Council of Ministers explicitly condemned the "unjustified attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran," warning that the operations directly destabilize the wider region. The cross-border strikes targeted multiple sectors across both the Erbil and Sulaymaniyah governorates on July 17, 2026, causing several military casualties.

Casualties in Sulaymaniyah Strike

While early morning drone strikes over the regional capital of Erbil were successfully intercepted by coalition air defenses, subsequent missile attacks in the Sulaymaniyah Governorate resulted in confirmed casualties.

According to regional security dispatches, the impacts were concentrated in rural areas near the Iranian border:

• Targeted Site: Multiple missiles struck the village of Zirgwezala, located east of Sulaymaniyah.
• Casualties Reported: The bombardment hit positions belonging to the Komala of Toilers of Kurdistan of Iran, an Iranian-Kurdish opposition group. Officials confirmed a number of Peshmerga fighters from the organization were killed and wounded in the blast.
• Collateral Assessment: Specialized emergency teams remain deployed at the site to assess the full extent of the structural damage and locate any additional victims.

Appeals for Federal and International Intervention

The Caretaker Government’s Council of Ministers framed the ongoing military operations as a severe violation of national borders and international law, demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities from Tehran.

In its public directive, the regional executive body called upon the Iraqi federal government to exercise its constitutional duty to protect the country's territorial integrity. Additionally, the council petitioned the international community to take a formal diplomatic and security stance to put an end to the recurring unilateral incursions.