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

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.

Since hostilities resumed in the region, drone attacks, which Kurdish authorities blamed on Iran, have repeatedly been intercepted over Erbil, also home to a major US consulate complex.

Kurdish counterterrorism forces said on Friday that "the coalition forces downed five explosive-laden drones over Erbil between 9:32 and 9:45 am".

No casualties were reported, they added.

Since the start of the Middle East war on February 28, the northern Kurdistan region has been a target for attacks carried out by Iran and pro-Iran Iraqi armed groups.

But pro-Iran groups have not claimed any new attacks since the renewal of hostilities in the region.

The Kurdistan region is also home to exiled Iranian Kurdish rebels who have also been a primary target for missile and drone attacks, blamed on Iran.

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