Erbil Drone Strike: Officials Allege 'War Crime' After Couple Killed in Sleep; Daughters Survive

07-04-2026 12:04
Photos show the devastation after a drone strike in Erbil killed a sleeping couple, leaving their children behind.

Peregraf — Senior officials in the Kurdistan Region have condemned a lethal drone strike that killed a married couple in Erbil, characterizing the incident as a "terrorist attack" and demanding that Baghdad and the international community intervene.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani denounced the late-night strike on a civilian residence in Zargazawi village. The attack resulted in the deaths of a husband and wife.

"I strongly condemn the ‘terrorist’ drone attack… which unfortunately resulted in the ‘martyrdom’ of a husband and wife," Barzani stated, offering condolences to the victims’ families. He emphasized that such actions are "completely unacceptable" and called on the Iraqi federal government to "fulfill its duty and responsibility to prevent these ‘crimes’ and ‘terrorist attacks.’"

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also condemned the incident, expressing that he was "deeply saddened" by the strike on what he described as the home of a Peshmerga family.

"The targeting of civilians and civilian homes is a ‘war crime’," the KRG Prime Minister said, pledging to present the victims’ case to the international community "to help end the ‘oppression’ and ‘unjustified attacks’ against the people of the Kurdistan Region."

Shoresh Ismail, the KRG Minister of Peshmerga Affairs, described the strike as a "brutal assault" carried out by an explosive-laden drone, which killed Peshmerga member Musa Anwar Rasul and his wife.

"The targeting of civilians… and the violation of the sovereignty of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq’s territory represent a direct threat to the security of the region," Ismail said, urging both Baghdad and international actors to take a "practical stance" against such strikes.

The strike occurred at approximately 12:15 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, when a weaponized drone hit the couple’s home in Zargazawi village, located in the Khabat district of Erbil Governorate.

"They were ‘martyred’ in the sweetness of sleep," according to local accounts, as the drone struck the room where the couple was resting.

The Kurdistan Region’s Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG) stated that the drone was launched from Iran and directly targeted the civilian residence. No additional casualties were reported.

The couple’s two young daughters, who were in another room at the time, survived the blast. Neighbors reported that the children were left traumatized, repeatedly calling out for their parents in the aftermath of the explosion.

The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from Kurdish officials, who have framed it as a violation of international law and a "war crime," asserting that the victims were civilians and the house was not a military target.

The incident occurs amid escalating regional hostilities linked to the ongoing US-Israel War on Iran. April 7 marks the 39th day of the conflict, which commenced on February 28, 2026, and has since expanded across multiple fronts.

Data compiled by Peregraf indicates that more than 650 drones and missiles have targeted sites across the Kurdistan Region since the start of hostilities. The attacks have been attributed either to Iranian forces or to armed groups operating under the banner of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.

According to Peregraf’s records, at least 15 people — including Peshmerga personnel and security members — have been killed, while approximately 70 others have been wounded.

One of the deadliest incidents occurred on March 24, when six Peshmerga fighters were killed in Iranian ballistic missile strikes targeting a base in the Soran district, highlighting the risks posed by the continued escalation of the US-Israel War on Iran.