Peregraf — The President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on Monday evening strongly condemned the drone attacks that targeted the residence of Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani over the weekend. The condemnation came during a phone call between the two leaders on March 30.
According to an official readout, Erdoğan expressed deep sympathy to Barzani and extended condolences to the families of Peshmerga members killed or wounded in recent attacks across the Kurdistan Region. He described the strike on Barzani’s residence in Duhok as a serious escalation and reiterated Türkiye’s rejection of such acts.
Regional Stability Emphasized
During the call, Erdoğan reaffirmed that Türkiye places high importance on the stability of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, stressing Ankara’s continued support for maintaining security and preventing further escalation.
Barzani, in turn, thanked the Turkish leader for the call and his country’s stance, stating that the Kurdistan Region intends to remain a stabilizing force and seeks to avoid being drawn into broader regional conflicts.
Focus on Diplomacy
Both leaders reviewed ongoing regional tensions and their wider global implications, underscoring the urgency of diplomatic efforts to reach ceasefires and peaceful resolutions to conflicts.
Attack Details
The drone attacks targeted the presidential residence in Duhok at approximately 11:16 AM on March 28. Footage from the first strike showed security forces engaging an incoming drone with heavy gunfire before a large explosion sent a plume of white smoke over the compound.
A second attack followed less than 24 hours later, with reports indicating that additional drones were intercepted by security forces. These incidents occurred on the 31st day of the US-Israel War on Iran, which began on February 28, 2026.
No official casualty figures have been released in connection with the attacks on the residence itself, but the incidents come amid a broader wave of escalating drone strikes across the Kurdistan Region involving various armed groups.