DUHOK / ERBIL — In a major escalation targeting the leadership of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, a drone attack struck the private residence of President Nechirvan Barzani in the city of Duhok early on Saturday, March 28, 2026. While the residence sustained material damage, KRG officials confirmed that the President was not at the property during the strike and that no casualties were reported.
The attack occurred during a day of intense aerial activity across northern Iraq, which included the successful interception of another drone near a Peshmerga military base in the same governorate.
The Attack: A Pre-Dawn Strike
According to security sources and the KRG Presidency, the drone impacted the residence in the early hours of Saturday morning.
- Targeted Location: The private home in Duhok, rather than the official presidential palace in Erbil, suggests a high degree of intelligence regarding the President’s personal properties.
- Damage Assessment: Photos and video circulating locally show damage to the exterior and perimeter of the residence, though the primary structure remains standing.
- Peshmerga Base Incident: Simultaneous to the home strike, air defense units neutralized a separate drone targeting a Peshmerga facility in Duhok, indicating a coordinated “dual-target” operation.
Condemnation and Investigation
The strike has triggered a rare moment of unified condemnation from Baghdad and Erbil, as Iraq struggles to maintain neutrality in the month-long U.S.-Israel-Iran war.
- Sudani’s Response: Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani held an urgent phone call with Barzani, labeling the strike a “heinous” and “cowardly” act. Sudani has ordered the immediate formation of a joint federal-KRG security and technical team to investigate the breach.
- Macron’s Support: French President Emmanuel Macron also spoke with Barzani today, reaffirming France’s “unwavering support” for the Kurdistan Region’s stability and condemning the “unjust” assault on its constitutional leadership.
- The IRGC Denial: In a surprising turn, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a formal statement (No. 49) officially condemning the attack. The IRGC characterized the strike as a “terrorist act” by “aggressor enemies” (referring to the U.S. and Israel) intended to destabilize the region and spark internal Iraqi conflict.
Escalation in the Kurdistan Region
The targeting of Barzani follows the deadliest week for Kurdish security forces since the war began on February 28.
| Date | Incident | Impact |
| March 28 | Drone strike on Barzani’s home | Material damage; No casualties. |
| March 28 | Drone intercepted at Peshmerga Base | Neutralized by air defenses. |
| March 24 | Ballistic missile strike in Soran | 6 Peshmerga killed; 30 wounded. |
| March 12 | Shahed drone strike at Training Base | 1 French officer killed; 6 wounded. |
What’s Next?
The strike on a top-tier political leader’s home marks a shift from military-industrial targets to leadership decapitation attempts within Iraq. While no group has claimed responsibility, the KDP Parliamentary Bloc has accused “outlawed groups” (referring to regional militias) of trying to incite chaos. As the April 6 deadline approaches, the KRG is expected to seek urgent air-defense reinforcements, possibly utilizing the newly developed Ukrainian drone systems recently highlighted by President Zelensky.
