Washington, Apr 1 (SANA) Air defense systems intercepted drones and missiles in separate incidents targeting Iraq’s Kurdistan Region and Qatar, officials said Wednesday, as regional tensions continue to intensify.
Authorities in Erbil said more than 20 drones targeted the city late Tuesday. Governor Omid Khoshnaw, speaking in a written statement carried by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), said all were intercepted before reaching their intended targets, with no casualties reported.
He described the incident as a coordinated wave of unmanned aerial vehicles neutralized by local air defense systems.
In a separate development, Qatar’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement posted on the social platform X on Wednesday that its forces engaged three cruise missiles approaching the country’s airspace.
The ministry said two missiles were intercepted, while the third struck an oil tanker chartered by Qatar Energy in the country’s economic waters.
It added that the vessel’s 21 crew members were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported. Authorities said emergency procedures were activated in coordination with relevant agencies to secure the site and ensure maritime safety.
The incidents follow ongoing hostilities that began on Feb. 28, with multiple countries reporting repeated drone and missile activity.
Officials and analysts have warned that the escalation could threaten energy infrastructure and key shipping routes across the Gulf and nearby regions.
R.H
