PM Barzani Vows Justice After Iranian Drone Kills Peshmerga Couple in

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani attended the funeral of a married couple killed by an Iranian drone strike on Erbil and vowed that those responsible would face consequences.

What Happened

On the night of April 6-7, 2026, at 00:15, an explosives-laden drone launched from Iranian territory struck Zergazawi village near Darashakran in Erbil province. The attack killed Musa Anwar Rasul, an active Peshmerga fighter, and his wife Mujda Asad Hasan. They left behind two young daughters, Parî and Dilîn. Musa's brother Abdullah had been martyred fighting ISIS in 2018.

Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw confirmed three drones were launched at Zergazawi. Two fell on empty land. The third hit the couple's home directly.

Barzani's Response

At the funeral, PM Barzani held a press conference delivering sharp criticism of both Iran and the Iraqi federal government:

He described the strike as a war crime targeting civilians in their own home.
He accused Baghdad of taking "no practical steps" to stop attacks on the Kurdistan Region, questioning whether this reflects inability or unwillingness.
His statement, "Those whose hands are red with the blood of our people will face their punishment", was directed at Iran and Iranian-backed militias operating within Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi).

Background: Why Is Kurdistan Under Attack?

Since the U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran began on February 28, 2026 ("Operation Epic Fury"), the Kurdistan Region has been caught in the crossfire despite not being a party to the conflict. As of April 7, the region had endured 678 drone and missile attacks: 540 targeting Erbil, 111 targeting Sulaymaniyah, 25 targeting Duhok, and 2 targeting Halabja.

On March 24, an Iranian ballistic missile struck Peshmerga bases in Soran, killing six fighters. On March 28, a drone hit Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani's private residence in Duhok, Iran called it "an error." The Kurdistan Regional Government has repeatedly stated it poses no threat to any party and considers itself outside the conflict.