Multiple rockets fall in Erbil, northern Iraq: State news agency

[AntiFascist]

Source: Al Arabiya

Multiple rockets fell in Erbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq on Sunday, the state news agency said quoting Erbil’s governor.

Missiles landed in the vicinity of the Unites States consulate reported Al Arabiya, adding that a “series of explosions” impacted the city following missile attacks, citing Kurdish sources.

No casualties have been reported after missiles reportedly struck Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, Reuters reports citing the Iraq state news agency who is quoting the Kurdistan health minister.

According to the latest update, the projectiles used in the attack are reported to be Iran’s Fateh-110, according to Al Arabiya citing Kurdish sources.

Read more: https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2022/03/13/Multiple-rockets-fall-in-Erbil-northern-Iraq-State-news-agency

---

WW3?

[BeyondGeography]

1. They missed the target

Now we know it was Russia.

[Wingus Dingus]

2. Haha. Good one.

[Wicked Blue]

3. I am amazed that neither CNN, BBC nor the Washington Post had the story at 7:03 pm EST

I've noticed their coverage is somewhat slow.
I guess all those newsroom cuts are to blame

[AntiFascist]

4. I noticed Blitzkrieg didn't even cover it in the Situation Room! n/t

[AntiFascist]

5. Here's the Reuters article, behind a paywall though...

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/multiple-rockets-fall-erbil-northern-iraq-state-media-2022-03-12/

[Cheezoholic]

6. Like India

theyll probably say they were doing maintenance and then "oops, sorry"

[AntiFascist]

7. Former advisor to Zalensky just mentioned this on MSNBC...

Saying that there is an alliance brewing, and this could either be a coincidence or a possible test of our reaction to the attack, and it could happen over and over and over again to disperse attention, and might get ugly for the world.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

24. Or...

"BAGHDAD (AP) — Iran claimed responsibility Sunday for a missile barrage that struck near a sprawling U.S. consulate complex in northern Iraq, saying it was retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard earlier this week."

https://apnews.com/article/iran-missile-attack-erbil-iraq-us-consulate-7a4ea6281fe6191a4e4b640c58c7fd49

Israel is in the hot seat. Allowing 14 private jets to land from Russia despite sanctions.

At least 14 private jets from Russia landed in Israel in the past 10 days amid the latest round of oligarch sanctions

https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-private-jets-oligarchs-sanctions-israel-2022-3

[ificandream]

8. UPI story ...

Multiple missiles fired at U.S. consulate in Erbil, Iraq
By Calley Hair

March 12 (UPI) -- Multiple missiles were fired late Saturday toward the U.S. consulate and a news station in Erbil, the autonomous Kurdish region in northwestern Iraq.

Five explosions could be heard during the attack, according to the state-run Iraqi News Agency. The INA's account was corroborated by photos and videos posted to social media showing the explosions.

The target of the attack is unclear. Omed Khoshnaw, Erbil's governor, said that multiple missiles fell in the area and it's unclear whether the target was the U.S. consulate or the Erbil International Airport, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The station of local news channel Kurdistan 24 was also damaged in the attack. A photo posted to Twitter by Barzan Sadiq, one of the station's reporters, depicted fallen debris on the studio floor.

Read more:
[link:https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2022/03/12/iraq-missiles-fired-us-consulate-erbil-iraq/6091647133559/|]

[ificandream]

9. Don't see it on Al Jazeera.

[AntiFascist]

10. The Guardian is reporting the US Consulate may have been hit...

and that there were as many as 12 missiles:

Rockets fired towards US consulate in northern Iraq city of Erbil: officials

As many as 12 ballistic missiles have struck the Iraq’s northern Kurdish regional capital Erbil, with some reports suggesting several hit the US consulate building.

A US official said the missiles were launched from neighbouring Iran early on Sunday morning, but there were no reports of casualties.

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. A US state department spokesperson called it an “outrageous attack”.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/13/rockets-fired-towards-us-consulate-in-northern-iraq-city-of-erbil-officials

[ruet]

13. I Am Hearing that the Consulate was the Target.

I cannot source it. I think this is a diversionary, probing, provocation and must be answered immediately if true. This is not the time for the US to appear weak. I think it might be time to bury the hatchet with our Republican brothers and sisters and prepare for what's to come.

[Cheezoholic]

11. The biggest question is

why? I've been searching wire reports over the last couple of days and other than a couple Turkish Kurdish scuffles there's nothing that would suggest a reason for this. Of course we don't know everything, but on the surface there appears to be no provocation.

[AntiFascist]

12. This CNBC report provides some context, but nothing too recent...

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/13/no-us-military-casualties-after-attack-in-erbil-iraq-us-official.html

[DashOneBravo]

17. No provocation

But watching the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle and how things are going in the Ukraine

Weakness is like blood in the water.

[ruet]

14. Video (Updated)

These are ballistic missiles folks. Not "rockets".

[Cheezoholic]

15. Right. These are suspected to be Iranian versions of

Russian Iskander missile's I believe, short to medium range ballistic missiles capable of multiple war head loads including nuclear.

[ruet]

16. The Guidance Looks Very Good.

Very tight CEP. Not an accident.

[Matthew28]

18. Only wwiii

If China jumps in...America has to be at risk of being defeated by an equal.

[ruet]

20. Not quite.

But it would be tough.

[Sapient Donkey]

19. What is Iraq saying about this.

While the target may have been US facilities in Iraq, it's still an attack on Iraq.

[ruet]

21. They Are Not Merely Facilities.

Consulates are the territory of the country under which their flag flies.

[Sapient Donkey]

22. Valid point, but I would still think Iraq may have a few words about this

They flew through their airspace and I believe some of them seem to have missed.

[muriel_volestrangler]

23. Iranian state media cited sources as saying that "secret Israeli bases" were targeted

The missiles damaged buildings near the US consulate complex but no casualties were reported, officials in the Kurdistan Regional Government said.

The US said none of its facilities were hit in the "outrageous attack".

There has been no confirmation of the launch from Iran, but Iranian state media cited sources as saying that "secret Israeli bases" were targeted.

The attack came six days after two senior officers in Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps were killed in a suspected Israeli air strike near the Syrian capital Damascus. The IRGC had vowed to make Israel "pay for this crime".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-60725959