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Several explosions rocked Erbil in northern Iraq early Tuesday, including near the US Consulate, as Iranian drones targeted multiple locations across the region.
Citing police sources, Al Jazeera reported that at least four Iranian drones targeted locations in northern Iraq's Khalifan and Soran areas, located northeast of Erbil. The attack caused huge fires in and around the targeted areas, with police reporting that two drones crashed near the targeted sites. At least seven explosions were also heard across Erbil, including in areas near the U.S. Consulate, Al Jazeera reported, citing Iraqi local media. In response to the suspected Iranian drone attack, police sources told Al Jazeera that "more than ten US warplanes and drones are reportedly flying over Erbil." Additionally, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, citing Iraqi sources, reported the destruction of an American drone in Al Anbar province, with local media publishing images of a US drone crash near the Haditha Dam. The strikes were accompanied by wider military activity across northern and western Iraq. IRIB reported that the Khor Mor gas field in Sulaymaniyah was attacked. The strikes come as US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he is prepared to resume "very strong military action" against Iran if ongoing diplomatic efforts fail, even as he confirmed that he had paused planned strikes on the Islamic Republic to allow negotiations another opportunity, according to a report by Axios. According to Axios, the current negotiations are focused on reaching a new agreement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and revive discussions on a broader nuclear deal with Iran. The talks are being led primarily by Iran and Oman, with Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, and Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Senior Adviser Jared Kushner also playing active roles. Speaking to Axios, Trump indicated that while diplomacy remains the preferred path for now, military action remains an option if negotiations do not produce results. "We are in very deep talks with Iran. If they don't work out, we will go back to very strong military action," Trump told Axios. When asked how much time he was willing to allow for diplomacy, Trump told Axios, "Not much time. Either it goes fast or not at all." According to Axios, Trump said he decided to suspend planned US strikes after countries involved in mediation efforts, along with several regional governments, urged him to give negotiations another chance. (ANI)
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