Peregraf — Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) President Bafel Talabani on Saturday condemned a missile attack he attributed to Iran on the Kurdistan Region, calling for an immediate halt to the strikes and warning that the Region's restraint "should not be mistaken for a lack of resolve or ability."
In a statement issued after what he described as Iranian ballistic missiles targeting the Kurdistan Region, Talabani called the attack "a grave and unacceptable violation" of the Region's security and Iraq's sovereignty.
"Last night, our nation faced a grave and unacceptable violation of our security and sovereignty. A ballistic missile strike, launched from Iran, targeted our homeland and our heroic security forces," he said.
Talabani said protecting civilians remains the authorities' top priority, adding that emergency services and security forces are working to ensure public safety.
"We stand with our brothers in Erbil at this grave time. An attack on one is an attack on all," he said.
The PUK president condemned the strike as "a severe breach of international norms and an unwarranted escalation," adding that "the targeting of our nation is entirely unacceptable."
While emphasizing that the Kurdistan Region does not seek a broader conflict, Talabani warned that its restraint should not be interpreted as weakness.
"We are not seeking an escalation of conflict, nor do we desire further instability in the region. However, our restraint should not be mistaken for a lack of resolve or ability," he said.
Talabani said the Kurdistan Region is coordinating with allies and partners to pursue "a measured, decisive, and robust diplomatic and defensive response."
He also called for an immediate end to the attacks and demanded an explanation for what he described as repeated violations of the Kurdistan Region's security and Iraq's sovereignty. Talabani's statement comes amid the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran, which has repeatedly spilled into the Kurdistan Region in recent months, with Iranian strikes targeting Iranian Kurdish opposition groups and, at times, drawing disputed claims about their intended targets.