In a significant escalation of rhetoric, President Masoud Barzani has called for an end to the culture of “mere condemnation,” demanding a decisive response to the wave of missile and drone attacks targeting the Kurdistan Region.
In a statement released Sunday, President Barzani broke a long-standing silence regarding the scale of the hostilities. He revealed that since the onset of the current regional conflict, the Kurdistan Region and Peshmerga forces have been struck by more than 450 drone and missile attacks.
Crucially, President Barzani disclosed for the first time that his own headquarters has been targeted five times. He also confirmed that a drone recently targeted the residence of the President of the Kurdistan Region in Duhok.
“We remained silent to avoid fueling public fear and anger,” Barzani stated, “but these attacks have reached a point of open warmongering and a grave violation of our sovereignty.”
The Kurdish leader directed a sharp ultimatum toward the Iraqi federal government. He urged authorities in Baghdad to either take concrete steps to rein in “outlaw groups” or openly admit their inability to protect the state. Barzani emphasized that diplomatic phone calls and investigative committees are no longer sufficient to address the threat to Kurdish lives and stability.
Despite the pressure, Barzani reaffirmed the resilience of the Kurdish people, stating that while they remain committed to peace, no adversary would succeed in breaking their determination to defend their land and cause.
The full message from President Barzani:
“In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
The Kurdistan Region has never been a party to the regional conflicts, tensions, or wars. Regrettably, however, there are certain groups who—unchecked by anyone—focus their primary efforts on antagonizing the Kurdistan Region. They continually and unjustly attack the Region and the Peshmerga forces, posing a constant threat to the lives and stability of the people of Kurdistan.
Over the past years, these groups have launched dozens of unjust and unprovoked drone and missile attacks against the Kurdistan Region and Peshmerga bases, resulting in the martyrdom and injury of innocent civilians. Since the onset of the current conflict, the Kurdistan Region and Peshmerga positions have been targeted more than 450 times by missiles and drones. During this same period, our own headquarters were attacked five times; however, we maintained our silence to avoid inciting public anxiety or anger. Furthermore, yesterday in the city of Duhok, the residence of the President of the Kurdistan Region was targeted by a drone. This issue is not about a specific individual’s home or headquarters—every place of Kurdistan and every Kurdish household holds immense value to us.
These types of attacks are overt acts of provocation and represent a grave injustice, transgression, and violation against the Kurdistan Region. They demand a serious and decisive resolution. In truth, this situation cannot be resolved through mere condemnations, phone calls, messages, or committees. The Iraqi authorities must clarify their position: they must either declare that they are unable to restrain these outlaw groups, or they must take serious action to uphold the state’s authority and implement rigorous measures to ensure that these unwarranted attacks on the Kurdistan Region never occur again.
We reaffirm here that the people of Kurdistan, with an iron will, shall continue to defend their message of peace and their just cause. No threat, attack, or enemy has ever been—or will ever be—able to break that will.
Masoud Barzani
March 29, 2026”