Iran-linked drone attack hits US coalition base at Erbil Airport

On 24 July 2026 dozens of drones targeted Erbil International Airport in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, a strategic hub for U.S. and coalition forces conducting operations against ISIS. The coalition’s air defenses intercepted the drones, shooting down five explosive‑laden UAVs over the airport without causing any casualties.

Kurdish anti‑terrorism officials attributed the assault to Iran and Iranian‑aligned Iraqi militias, noting a pattern of recent drone and missile activity in the north. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned civilians to stay at least 500 metres from U.S. installations, while the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem issued travel advisories for Americans in the Middle East. Regional airlines have adjusted schedules amid concerns of further disruptions.

The incident signals a collapse of the tacit cease‑fire that had held in the area and raises the risk of broader escalation between Tehran and U.S. forces in the region.