Several drones struck three different areas in Sulaymaniyah in Iraq’s northern Kurdish region, local media reported. One person was killed in one of the attacks, according to an official with one of the Kurdish Iranian dissident groups.
Two drones hit a building in the Sulaymaniyah city center, an area that houses offices and commercial buildings, including a United Nations compound. Live footage shared by local outlets showed a building engulfed in flames, while another video appeared to show air defenses engaging drones overhead.
Three other drones targeted Force 70, a Peshmerga unit of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan headed by Bafel Talabani, son of former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and a senior Kurdish political leader. One drone also fell near Sulaymaniyah International Airport. No casualties were immediately reported.
Separate drones targeted positions of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, killing one person, according to an official with the group, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with the press.
The strikes come amid a surge in drone activity targeting cities in Iraq’s northern Kurdish region, including recent interceptions over Erbil.
Trump: ‘We’re not looking to settle’ with Iran
The president said Saturday that the U.S. retains significant leverage over Iran and isn’t looking to negotiate with its remaining leadership.
“We’re not looking to settle,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One. “They’d like to settle. We’re not looking to settle.”
Steve Witkoff, one of his top envoys in talks with Iran, said the Tehran leadership did not seem “very amenable” during negotiations before the U.S. launched strikes.
“They told me and Jared, we’re not going to give you diplomatically what you couldn’t take militarily,” said Witkoff, referring to fellow negotiator and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner. “So you know, I think they’re going to need a change of attitude.”
During the gaggle with reporters, Trump repeatedly described the ongoing U.S. operations in Iran as an “excursion” and said issues such as rising gas prices and the safety of Americans would be improved once the conflict ends.
Israeli military confirms strike on Tehran fuel storage facilities
Israel’s military confirmed striking several fuel storage complexes in Tehran on Saturday night.
Associated Press video showed a glowing horizon over Tehran, followed by pillars of flame and billowing smoke.
The Iranian state news agency said an oil storage facility was targeted in the strikes. It is among the first times a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war.
The Israel Defense Forces said Iran was using the fuel tanks to supply its military.
Iran state media in response threatened to hit oil refineries in the northern Israeli city of Haifa.
Trump downplays reports Russia is providing Iran information on US targets in the Middle East
Trump stopped short of confirming reports that U.S. intelligence officials believe Russia has provided Iran with information to target U.S. troops and assets in the Middle East. But the president suggested it was of little consequence if Moscow is found to be assisting out Iran.
“If you take a look at what’s happened to Iran in the last week, if they’re getting information, it’s not helping them much,” Trump said.
The president also waved off a question about how Russia assisting Iran in such a matter with impact his view of the U.S.-Russia relationship.
“They’d say we do it against them,” Trump responded. “Wouldn’t they say that we do it against them?”
The Ukrainian military has been assisted with U.S. intelligence to help defend against incoming missiles from Russia, and also to help Kyiv hit certain Russian targets.
Iranians leave Lebanon over escalating conflict
The families of Iranian embassy staff left Saturday, along with teachers and students from an Iranian school and a number of other Iranians residing in Lebanon, Iran’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
It said the move was made “due to the current security situation in Lebanon as a result of the brutal attacks launched by the Zionist entity against the country, and out of concern for the safety and security of our citizens residing in Lebanon.”
It said that consular services will continue for Iranians remaining in Lebanon.
Days earlier, the Israeli military issued a warning to “representatives of the Iranian terrorist regime still in Lebanon to leave immediately before they are targeted.” On Friday, an Israeli strike landed near the Iranian embassy in Beirut.
Iraqi prime minister condemns targeting of US embassy
Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called an attack launched on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Saturday a “terrorist act” carried out by “rogue groups” and said he had issued orders to military and security agencies to pursue those responsible.
Iraqi security earlier said that a missile had landed on the helicopter landing pad in the U.S. Embassy complex in Baghdad. There were no casualties reported. An embassy spokesperson declined to comment. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses government offices and diplomatic missions has been attacked in the past, but this was the first reported strike to land in the week since Israel and the U.S. began striking Tehran, triggering a war in the Middle East.
Iran and allied Iraqi militias have launched dozens of attacks on U.S. military bases and other facilities in Iraq since then. They have also struck bases of Iranian Kurdish dissident groups with operations in northern Iraq.
