ISTANBUL

Head of the Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), Nechirvan Barzani, said Tuesday that the KRG "will in no way be part" of the ongoing Iran conflict.

Speaking during a high-level military and security meeting attended by senior officials, Barzani said the KRG territory will not "be allowed to become a source of threat to Iran or other neighbouring countries,” stressing that preserving peace is a "top priority.”

A statement issued following the meeting said participants discussed the latest security developments in the region, the consequences of the Iran war, and its dangerous impacts on the KRG.

Several decisions and directives were issued by the meeting to strengthen the security and stability in the Kurdish region and to guide the media coverage of current events and developments.

“The meeting strongly condemned the destructive attacks carried out by illegal groups in Iraq," which targeted the Kurdish region with drones and missiles, causing loss of life and property, the statement said.

"The Iraqi federal government is responsible for preventing these attacks and identifying and punishing those responsible, as these actions constitute a clear violation of the country’s sovereignty and a threat to public stability,” it added.

Regional escalation flared up since Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,200 people, and injuring over 10,000 others.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Iraq, Jordan, and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets.