Multiple explosions heard near US Consulate in Iraqi city of Erbil
Air defenses activated amid reported drone attack
An explosion is reported near the U.S. Consulate and the Erbil International Airport area, where a U.S. military base is also located, in Erbil, Iraq, with fire breaking out and thick smoke rising following the blast, on March 12, 2026.Photo: Ahsan Mohammed Ahmed Ahmed/AA
ERBIL, Iraq
Multiple explosions were heard late Tuesday near the US Consulate and in the Serbesti neighborhood in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil.
Air defense systems were activated amid an attack involving suicide drones.
Local media reported that the drones were intercepted and neutralized.
There has been no statement so far from the Kurdish Regional Government on the incident.
Explosions have been reported daily in Erbil since Iran began retaliatory actions against US and Israeli attacks, with air defense systems frequently engaged.
Israel and the US have continued joint attacks on Iran since Feb. 28, killing around 1,300 people so far, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.
