ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Monday held a phone call with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mazloum Abdi, where the pair stressed the need to preserve the Kurdistan Region’s security and stability, as Erbil continues to come under direct attack amid widening regional escalation.

In the immediate aftermath of the US and Israel’s strikes on Iran, a massive retaliation campaign by Iran and its proxy Iraqi militias has been launched against US interests in the region, including an American military base near Erbil airport and the US Consulate General in Erbil - the largest consulate in the world. 

“During the call, the general situation of the region, developments, and regional complications were discussed, and emphasis was placed on preserving the security, calm, and stability of the Kurdistan Region and the region as a whole,” read a statement from Barzani’s office.

Drones and missiles have targeted Erbil frequently since Saturday with the MIM-104 Patriot defense system hard at work, effectively intercepting the projectiles.

Attacks on Erbil continued on Sunday evening, with numerous explosions heard across the Kurdistan Region’s capital. Several projectiles fell near Erbil International Airport and the US military base in its vicinity, while the 120-meter ring road was damaged. 

On Monday morning, three other strikes reportedly targeting the US consulate and airport were intercepted, with the blasts being heard across the city.

The American military base in Erbil has become a bigger target after US-led coalition forces left most of federal Iraq, such as the large Ain al-Assad base in the western Anbar province, and most of their troops were relocated to the Kurdistan Region as part of a deal with Baghdad to withdraw coalition forces from Iraq entirely.

Among Iran’s main targets in the Kurdistan Region are the Iranian Kurdish opposition groups, five of which on February 22 formed an alliance aimed at toppling the Iranian regime. These groups have long been targeted by Tehran, including on Saturday.