Drone Strike Targets Residence of Iraqi Kurdistan President Nechirvan Barzani in Duhok

A drone attack targets the home of Iraqi Kurdistan President Nechirvan Barzani in Duhok, causing damage but no casualties amid rising regional tensions.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 1:34 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the Associated Press (AP)

A Targeted Strike in Duhok

In a significant escalation of internal security threats within Iraq, a drone targeted the private residence of Kurdish President Nechirvan Barzani today. An official with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), speaking to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the strike caused visible damage to the property. Fortunately, the President was not present during the attack, and no staff members or security personnel were injured. This incident follows a series of drone and missile strikes that have plagued the region since the broader Middle East conflict intensified last month.

Condemnation from Baghdad

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani moved quickly to address the incident, placing a direct phone call to President Barzani to express his support. In a statement released by the Prime Minister's office, al-Sudani labeled the drone strike a “heinous” act that threatens the sovereignty and stability of the entire nation. He emphasized that a joint security and technical team—comprised of both federal Iraqi authorities and KRG security forces—has been dispatched to Duhok to investigate the origin of the drone and identify those responsible.

The Threat of Non-State Actors

The attack has reignited concerns regarding the proliferation of armed groups operating outside the control of the Iraqi state. Qubad Talabani, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdish region, issued a stern warning following the strike, stating that these "uncontrolled" factions pose a growing existential threat to Iraq's fragile stability. While no group has officially claimed responsibility for the strike in Duhok, the region has frequently been a target for militias seeking to pressure the Kurdish leadership or disrupt its security ties with the West.