In an unprecedented development, the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Bafel Talabani, directed sharp criticism at Iran following recent attacks launched against the Kurdistan Region in general, and specifically at sites belonging to the PUK in its stronghold of Sulaymaniyah province, northern Iraq, which borders Iran.

In a statement received by Asharq Al-Awsat, translated from Kurdish, Talabani said: "Our nation was subjected (last night) to a serious and unacceptable violation of its security and sovereignty, as a ballistic missile attack, launched from Iran, targeted our homeland and our brave security forces."

Bafel Talabani attacks Iran severely (Patriotic Union Party website)

He added: "Above all, our top priority is the safety, well-being, and protection of our citizens. Emergency services and defense forces have been fully mobilized and are working tirelessly to ensure security throughout the homeland. In these difficult circumstances, we stand with our brothers in Erbil; an attack on any of us is an attack on all of us."

Kurdish | Arabic | ENG Last night, the security and sovereignty of our nation faced a major and unacceptable violation. A ballistic missile attack, launched from Iran, targeted our homeland and our heroic security forces. Above all else, our top priority is...

— Bafel Jalal Talabani (@Bafeltalabani) July 18, 2026

Talabani continued that "this deliberate act of aggression is a flagrant violation of international norms and an unjustified escalation. We condemn this attack in the strongest terms. Let it be clear to everyone: targeting our nation is completely unacceptable, and the safety of our people is a red line that cannot be crossed."

Talabani emphasized that his party and the Kurds "do not seek escalation and do not desire further instability in the region, but our restraint should not be interpreted as a lack of resolve or capability. We are actively coordinating with our allies and partners to ensure a deliberate, decisive, and strong diplomatic and defensive response to guarantee the protection of our nation."

Talabani called on Iran to "immediately cease these hostile acts, and we demand an immediate explanation regarding these violations. Our focus will remain entirely on defense, de-escalation, and the absolute protection of all our citizens."

Kurdish Anger

A PUK leader, Soran Daoudi, told Asharq Al-Awsat that "the Nakran region was subjected to a missile attack on Sunday evening, specifically Qala Chwalan, which is considered one of the main strongholds of the PUK and was the center and headquarters of the late president and leader of the PUK, Jalal Talabani."

Prior to that, according to Daoudi, "the Force 70 site of the Peshmerga forces in Sulaymaniyah was subjected to a similar attack that caused heavy losses to the force's weapon depots."

Daoudi points to a "state of severe anger sweeping the Kurdish street as a result of the unjustified Iranian attacks against the region's areas."

He expressed his regret that "the federal authorities have not taken the necessary measures to stop the assaults on the region, given that they are responsible for protecting the country's security, including the Kurdistan Region."

The regional government in Erbil had previously condemned the attacks targeting various areas of the region under the pretext of attacking American targets, which the regional authorities deny.

Statement issued by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the Kurdistan Region: The Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the Kurdistan Region issued a statement today, Friday, July 17, 2026, regarding the unjustified Iranian attacks on the territory of the region. The following is the text of the statement: We condemn the unjustified attacks launched by the Islamic Republic of Iran on the region... pic.twitter.com/a5FVtS8eSm

— Kurdistan Regional Government (@Kurdistan) July 17, 2026

The region has been subjected to 49 drone and missile attacks since the beginning of this July, according to statistics announced by the Rudaw Media Network on Monday, bringing the total number of attacks the region has faced since the outbreak of the American-Israeli war against Iran at the end of last February to 920 attacks, according to the network.

Various areas of the region witnessed sporadic attacks on Monday, including an attack on the "Komalay Zahmatkeshan (Toilers Society) of Kurdistan." Rudaw network quoted Amjad Hussein Panahi, a member of the society's leadership, as saying that they were subjected to a single missile strike that targeted the Alana Valley in the Khalifan district of Erbil province.

Panahi added that the Surdash camp and the society's headquarters in the Surdash sub-district in Sulaymaniyah province were subjected to an attack by two drones at dawn on Monday, in addition to another attack that targeted an area in the vicinity of the Jasna cave in Sulaymaniyah province.

For his part, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Monday that the incident that claimed the life of an American soldier in Iraq last Saturday was an "accidental incident."

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Western media quoted Rubio as saying that "the soldier was injured while dismantling an Iranian drone that had been shot down."

He added, "Nothing in military work is safe. It is inherently dangerous work, and we are grateful for these American heroes who wear the uniform in service to our country."