A statement by the Directorate General of Counter Terrorism in the Kurdistan Region

After the missile attack that was carried out on the night of February 15, 2021, which targeted the city of Erbil and the Erbil International Airport with 14 missiles, killing a foreign contractor, an Iraqi citizen and wounding five American soldiers and two civilians. The security services in the Kurdistan Region immediately opened a comprehensive and detailed investigation. The vehicle carrying the missiles was found which has resulted in security forces obtaining important information.

The investigation shows that four persons carried out the terrorist attack with the ring leader, the main perpetrator of the attack, identified as Haidar Hamza al-Bayati. He has been arrested and confessed to the crime, he provided a detailed confession about how the attack was carried out.

After sharing the results of the investigation with the security institutions in the federal government and the international coalition, the federal security institutions have arrested another perpetrator of the attack. Two additional criminals involved are being investigated and will be arrested when found. The names of the additional criminals in hiding were not revealed in the confessions of Haidar Hamza al-Bayati.

We reassure our beloved citizens that the security forces in the Kurdistan Region will continue to carry out their duties with dedication to maintain the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region. They are ready to thwart any activity, attempts or plans aimed at undermining security and stability in the Kurdistan Region.