Kurdish and Iraqi security officials on Wednesday were scrambling to piece together how an almost unknown group with possible ties to Iran was able to carry out a deadly raid in one of Iraq’s safest regions this week.
The two sides are conducting a joint investigation into Monday night’s attack on Erbil Airport that killed a military contractor and wounded an American soldier as well as several others, including nearby civilians.
Officials in Baghdad said the militant group had breached the border of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region – once an island of stability and safety in the post-2003 conflict.
It is likely that whichever group conducted the rocket attack used smugglers to bring in the rockets
“There were 11 rockets that fell in Erbil which were fired from within the borders of the region, they were launched from two areas in Erbil," Iraqi army spokesman Maj Gen Yehia Rasool said on Wednesday.
Maj Gen Rasool suggested the rockets were launched only five kilometres from the centre of the Kurdish region's capital.
“Kurdish security forces must investigate the breaches,” he said.
While several government and security units in Erbil uncovered evidence to support the claim, some officials in the administration refuted allegations that the rockets were launched from federal Iraq.
The Hashd Al Shaabi or Popular Mobilisation Forces are government-sanctioned paramilitary groups formed to fight ISIS. Many are trained, funded and tied to Iran and have been accused of attacks on international forces.
The exact location of the launch site has not been made public and although security analyst Alex Almeida said it was "95 per cent likely" the operation was launched from Kurdish territory, there was a small possibility both sides are correct.
"There's still a very small possibility there were two separate strikes, one involving long-range 122mm [rockets] fired from the outside the Kurdish forward line of control and the other using 107mm [rockets] from the Erbil outskirts," he told The National.
The Kurdish interior ministry said late on Tuesday that it had located a vehicle they suspected was used to fire the rockets.
"The vehicle was a Kia and it was between Erbil and Gwer," the ministry said.
Kurdish intelligence services found Iranian Fajr-1 rockets still intact at the launch site, which was reportedly in the Kurdish region of Iraq.
A militant group, known as the Guardians of Blood Brigade, said it fired 24 rockets that avoided the airport’s defences, specifically naming an automatic machinegun known as a C-Ram that protects US installations in Iraq.
“The American occupation will not be safe from our strikes in any inch of the homeland, even in Kurdistan, where we promise we will carry out other qualitative operations,” the claim said, according to the Site Intelligence Group.
Security gaps?
Experts believe that there are security gaps in the perimeter of the Kurdistan region's borders and smuggling has always been an issue.
"It is likely that whichever group conducted the rocket attack used smugglers to bring in the rockets and set up the launch in an area which has only a light security presence," said Sajad Jiyad, a Baghdad-based fellow with the Century Foundation.
The exact target was the Harir base, where US and other international forces are housed next to Erbil International Airport, he told The National.
“The type of rockets used were inaccurate short-range ones, which is why some landed in residential areas,” he said.
“The message is that American troops can be targeted anywhere,” Mr Jiyad said.
The Kia Bongo lorry found by Kurdish authorities and used as the launcher is likely to have blended with market traffic, Mr Almeida tweeted.
Although the attack was aimed at US forces, the Kurdish government considers it to be a strike on the region's security, a Kurdish official from Erbil told The National.
"We take this as an attack on the Kurdistan region, our interest, our allies and people who share responsibility to protect Kurdistan and fight a common enemy,” he said.
“The attacks were conducted by those who are not happy with our political, economic, diplomatic and social development and are trying to sabotage the progress,” he said.
Iranian arms exports
While some observers are uncertain about whether Iran intentionally supplied the rockets, other analysts seemed certain the weapons were Fajr-1 107mm rockets of Iranian origin.
"While the 107 was abundant in other variants, we did see brand new 120/122mm rockets made in Iran, identified from their markings," said Craig Whiteside, a retired colonel and Iraq war veteran who now teaches at the US Naval War College.
At the time, Iran was smuggling the weapons over the border in large numbers to some of the same militias now at odds with coalition forces.
Iranian Fajr-1 rockets were so ubiquitous, British and US reports published identification guides that showed highly distinctive markings on the devices, contrasting them with other variants of the rocket, which were made in China.
"Sometimes the jerry-rigged launchers they used would fall over in mid launch and we could capture remnants not fired or find them in caches," Mr Whiteside said, which could explain how Kurdish forces found intact rockets.
Captured Fajr-1 rockets, manufactured by the Iranian Armament Industries Group, all have the same markings: calibre, lot number, year of production and net weight and another code "R. No.", which is almost always handwritten.
Weapons captured by US forces in previous incidents, going back to the early part of the Iraq occupation, are identical to those used in the attacks on Monday night.
Iran denied the attacks, but according to a report by the Small Arms Survey, by transferring such large quantities of Fajr-1 rockets to Iraq, production companies would have been well aware of the end use, especially since the weapons were previously used to attack the coalition.
"The Iranian government is culpable for the acquisition and use of these weapons in Iraq and elsewhere," the report concluded.
The line up
Friday: Giggs, Sho Madjozi and Masego
Saturday: Nas, Lion Bbae, Roxanne Shante and DaniLeigh
Sole DXB runs from December 6 to 8 at Dubai Design District. Weekend pass is Dh295 while a one day pass is Dh195. Tickets are available from www.soledxb.com
Jebel Ali results
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Shamikh, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 64,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: One Vision, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Gabr, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
4pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 96,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
4.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Torno Subito, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner: Untold Secret, Jose Santiago, Salem bin Ghadayer
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Super 30
Produced: Sajid Nadiadwala and Phantom Productions
Directed: Vikas Bahl
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Srivastav, Mrinal Thakur
Rating: 3.5 /5
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
The%20specs
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test India won by innings and 53 runs at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 0
Manchester City 2
Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
The%20specs
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
TALE OF THE TAPE
Manny Pacquiao
Record: 59-6-2 (38 KOs)
Age: 38
Weight: 146lbs
Height: 166cm
Reach: 170cm
Jeff Horn
Record: 16-0-1 (11 KOs)
Age: 29
Weight: 146.2lbs
Height: 175cm
Reach: 173cm
NBA Finals so far
(Toronto lead 3-1 in best-of-seven series_
Game 1 Raptors 118 Warriors 109
Game 2 Raptors 104 Warriors 109
Game 3 Warriors 109 Raptors 123
Game 4 Warriors 92 Raptors 105
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience
by David Gilmour
Allen Lane
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Red Sparrow
Dir: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
Three stars
Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Biog:
Age: 34
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite sport: anything extreme
Favourite person: Muhammad Ali
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
