US-led coalition downs five drones over Iraq's Erbil amid tensions in West Asia

Updated On: 24 July, 2026 08:37 PM IST | Iraq | AFP

Drones hovered over Erbil before air defences were activated, resulting in explosions and smoke near the city's airport, which hosts US-led coalition troops. Since hostilities resumed in the region, drone attacks, which Kurdish authorities blamed on Iran, have repeatedly been intercepted over Erbil

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Smoke rises after explosions were heard and air defences activated near the airport in Erbil, on Friday. PIC/AFP

Kurdish forces said the US-led coalition shot down five drones on Friday over Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region, which has been repeatedly attacked since hostilities resumed in the Middle East.

An AFP journalist reported earlier seeing drones hovering over Erbil, before air defences were activated, resulting in explosions and visible smoke near the city's airport, which hosts US-led coalition troops.