Secondary Explosions Rock Sulaymaniyah Following Iranian Drone Strikes on Militia Depots

SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq — Secondary explosions erupted across the Sulaymaniyah Governorate in Iraqi Kurdistan late Thursday following a series of drone strikes attributed to Iran targeting ammunition depots held by Kurdish militias. The blasts occurred shortly after 5:45 p.m. local time as emergency crews attempted to contain fires ignited by initial impacts on military storage facilities.

The attacks, launched using unmanned aerial vehicles originating from Iranian airspace, struck multiple locations within the governorate known for housing heavy weaponry and explosive ordnance belonging to various armed groups aligned with Kurdish political factions. Witnesses described a series of deafening detonations that sent shockwaves through residential neighborhoods bordering the targeted sites, shattering windows and causing panic among civilians who fled their homes in large numbers.

Local authorities confirmed that the primary targets were strategic ammunition warehouses rather than civilian infrastructure, though the resulting chain reactions have complicated containment efforts. The secondary explosions appear to be caused by heat from initial impacts triggering stored munitions within the depots. Thick plumes of black smoke rose into the sky for miles, visible across much of northern Iraq and parts of neighboring Iran.

Emergency response teams were deployed immediately to extinguish fires and evacuate residents in affected zones. Medical facilities reported receiving dozens of individuals with minor injuries related to debris and shockwaves, while officials stated that no fatalities had been confirmed as of late Thursday evening. However, the extent of damage to critical infrastructure remains under assessment.

The strikes mark a significant escalation in regional tensions involving Iranian military assets operating within Iraqi airspace against non-state actors. While Iran has not issued an official statement regarding the operation, the timing and methodology align with previous patterns of drone usage by Tehran-backed forces or direct state action aimed at degrading militia capabilities in the region.

Kurdish political leaders have condemned the attacks as a violation of Iraq's sovereignty, calling for immediate international intervention to prevent further instability. The Iraqi federal government has also expressed concern over the breach of airspace and is coordinating with local security forces to secure the perimeter around the strike sites.

As night fell on Thursday, fires continued to burn at several locations in Sulaymaniyah, raising fears that additional explosions could occur if unstable munitions remain unsecured. Security officials have imposed curfews in surrounding districts as they work to assess structural damage and ensure public safety.

Questions remain regarding the full scope of the operation, including whether further strikes are planned or if other militia depots across Iraq were targeted simultaneously. Regional observers warn that such actions could provoke retaliatory measures from Kurdish armed groups, potentially drawing wider conflict into an already volatile area.