Rocket attack possibly hits aircraft at Erbil in Iraq

According to first reports, a US Army General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagle was destroyed and a US Air Force Beechcraft Super King Air 350 (a C-12 variant) were possibly damaged in a rocket attack on Erbil International Airport in northern Iraq around 22:00 hrs LT on 15 February 2021.

Besides damages to the base, one civilian contractor was killed, five other contractors and one US service member suffered injuries. At least one local civilian was also killed in the attack, which also struck a nearby residential neighbourhood causing damage and injuries to persons.

At the airport, various foreign troops are based as part of an international alliance fighting the armed group ISIS/Daesh. Because of the attack, the airport was shut down and flights were halted for safety issues. Erbil airport has been an important stronghold in fighting ISIS over the years and was considered a safe place. The military side of Erbil airport is one of three remaining bases with a significant number of US troops.

A coalition spokesman reported that some fourteen “107mm rockets” were launched at Erbil Airport and three directly hit the base. A group called Saraya Awliya al-Dam took immediate responsibility, claiming to have fired 24 rockets in the attack. The self-styled group is widely seen as a front for Iran-linked militia in Iraq, in particular Kataib Hezbollah, the group that killed multiple Americans in two attacks on US bases in Iraq in 2019 and 2020.

Iran denies any involvement in the attack. Kurdistan Counter Terrorism authorities have released pictures of what appear to be launchers for 107mm rockets, concealed inside a civilian vehicle, which was used to carry out the attack.