ERBIL / Anadolu

Local media reported on Friday that explosions were heard in the city of Erbil in the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq.

It has not yet become clear whether the sounds of explosions were caused by air defense systems intercepting and downing drones, or by attacks hitting their targets, while official authorities have not immediately issued any statement regarding the incident.

This development comes shortly after the announcement of a fire in the city of Sulaymaniyah, following an attack carried out with a rocket and a suicide drone.

Earlier on Friday, the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq announced that the international coalition shot down 8 booby-trapped drones over the skies of Erbil province, while 9 members of the Komala organization, an opposition group to the Iranian government, were killed and 3 others were seriously injured in a rocket attack targeting the group's camp in Sulaymaniyah province, according to media.

It is worth noting that the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq 'strongly' condemned previous Iranian attacks on Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, and called on Tehran to immediately halt the attacks.