The IRGC attack on Erbil marked another sharp escalation between Iran and the United States, as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed Wednesday that its ground forces targeted a US military base in Erbil with missiles and drones.
According to the IRGC, the combined assault struck several facilities at the base. The group claimed the attack destroyed a repair center and warehouses containing technical equipment. It also said the strikes ignited fuel storage tanks at the site.
Furthermore, the IRGC claimed that its forces destroyed what it described as a guidance system linked to an American surveillance balloon operating from the base. The group also said that several US personnel died in the attack. However, US officials have not independently confirmed those claims.
The reported IRGC attack on Erbil followed a major escalation between Washington and Tehran. Earlier, US forces launched strikes against dozens of targets across southern Iran. In response, the IRGC fired missile and drone barrages toward several locations, including Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Erbil.
Meanwhile, residents in Erbil reported explosions during the early hours of Wednesday. At least one interception occurred over the city, while witnesses reported hearing two loud blasts. A small fire also appeared near Erbil International Airport following the explosions.
The latest escalation has raised fresh concerns about the security of the Kurdistan Region. Erbil has repeatedly faced threats linked to the wider US-Iran confrontation because American forces operate from a military facility near the international airport.
At the same time, US President Donald Trump warned Iran against further retaliation. He said Washington would respond at a significantly higher level if Tehran launched additional attacks following the latest US strikes.
The confrontation has also affected the Kurdistan Region in previous rounds of escalation. Iranian forces and Iran-aligned Iraqi Shiite militias have launched more than a thousand missiles and drones toward the region, targeting the US military presence in Erbil as well as civilian areas and locations associated with Kurdish political leaders.
US Central Command said Tuesday that American forces had begun striking IRGC targets inside Iran. It described the operation as a response to Iranian actions connected to the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian officials had already promised retaliation before the latest strikes. IRGC spokesperson Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi warned that the US would face what he called severe consequences for its actions.
As tensions continue to rise, the IRGC attack on Erbil adds another dangerous flashpoint to an increasingly volatile regional confrontation. The developments could further threaten security in the Kurdistan Region while increasing fears of additional Iranian and US strikes in the coming days.
