Iraq rejects Iranian attack on opposition party camp

By Ibrahim Saleh

BAGHDAD

Iraq’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday rejected an Iranian attack targeting a meeting of the opposition Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (IKDP) in northern Iraq.

At least 16 people were killed and 40 others injured when Iranian drones struck a party camp in the town of Koy Sanjag in northern city of Erbil on Saturday.

In a statement, the ministry reiterated “rejection of the violation of Iraqi sovereignty by bombing any target within its territory without a prior coordination with Iraqi authorities.”

The statement did not explicitly point the finger at Iran over the attack, but it said “Iraq is keen on the security of its neighbors and rejects the use of its territory to threaten the security of these countries”.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed responsibility for the attack, saying it fired seven missiles on the opposition group in northern Iraq.

Established in 1996, the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan has been operating in Erbil.