Countries across the Middle East have condemned a drone attack targeting the UAE’s consulate in Erbil in the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq.
The attack took place on Monday, March 9. It marks the latest attempt by Iran and its proxies to target the UAE. Hundreds of drones and missiles have been launched at the UAE since Israel and the US went to war with the Islamic Republic on February 28.
Gulf countries have succeeded in countering most of the threats against them. Meanwhile, Iran has clearly chosen the UAE as a major target. This may be due to its membership in the Abraham Accords and to its hosting of US forces.
The UAE condemned the attack on its consulate. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq said it had downed three drones that were attacking Erbil on Monday.
Debris from one of the drones fell near the consulate. Saudi Arabia said it expressed the “strongest condemnation” of this attack. Jordan also slammed the incident and called on countries to uphold “international law and adhere to the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”
Strike 'represents a dangerous escalation'
The UAE said the attack “represents a dangerous escalation and a threat to regional security and stability.” It noted that “targeting diplomatic missions and premises constitutes a flagrant violation of all international norms and laws.”
“The United Arab Emirates has called on the government of the Republic of Iraq and the government of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to investigate the circumstances surrounding this attack, identify those responsible, and take all necessary measures to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable,” it continued.
As for the statement by Abu Dhabi, it noted that the Foreign Ministry “reiterated the UAE’s firm rejection of such attacks aimed at undermining security and stability, emphasizing the necessity of protecting diplomatic premises, missions, and their personnel in accordance with international laws and norms.”
Meanwhile, in the UAE, two of its military members have also been killed.
According to the UAE’s The National, “Two members of the UAE Armed Forces were martyred on Monday in a helicopter crash caused by a technical malfunction.”
In addition, a security guard was also killed in an Iranian attack. The National noted that “the family of a young security guard who was killed when Iran struck Abu Dhabi airport has paid a heartfelt tribute to him.
“Dibas Shrestha, 29, from Nepal, died on Sunday, March 1, a day after Tehran’s first attacks on the Emirates. He is among four UAE residents killed since Iran began firing missiles and drones at infrastructure and civilian sites.”
Attacks continued in the Gulf on Tuesday. Arab News noted that “Iran launched new attacks on Tuesday at Gulf Arab countries as it keeps up pressure on the region, while five pro-Iranian militants were killed in an airstrike in northern Iraq.”
“Incoming missile sirens sounded early in the morning in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, and in Bahrain. At the same time, Saudi Arabia said it had destroyed two drones over its oil-rich eastern region and Kuwait’s National Guard said it had shot down six drones.”
In the Kurdistan Region, where the UAE consulate was targeted, more than 200 drone and missile attacks have been launched.
France has also condemned the attacks.
In an interview with Kurdish channel Rudaw, Pascal Confavreux, the deputy spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry, said Paris opposes strikes against the Kurdistan Region and called for urgent de-escalation across the region. France has an aircraft carrier steaming in the Mediterranean toward the Middle East.