Iran-Linked Attacks Leave 21 Dead in Kurdistan Region
On Friday, two female Peshmerga fighters from the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan were killed in the mountains, while the son of another Peshmerga fighter lost his life in a refugee camp in Erbil in Iranian drone strikes.
Iran has stepped up its drone attacks on Iranian Kurdish opposition groups, in violation of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire. As a result, a total of 21 persons were killed in missile and drone strikes by Iran and Iranian-backed Iraqi armed groups since February 28.
The Kurdistan Region has suffered more casualties than Gulf countries such as the UAE, despite being heavily targeted by Iranian strikes, yet it lacks the means to protect itself, as Baghdad does not permit it to acquire anti-drone defense systems.
Overview: Casualties in recent conflict 28 February until April 17
Iranian Kurdish opposition members
1- Jalal Rashid (Kawan) – Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) – killed in Degala, east of Erbil – March 4, 2026
2- Ismail Rahimi (Ako) – Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan – killed near Sulaymaniyah – March 7, 2026
3- Omid Veysi (Omid Ravansar) – Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan – killed south of Sulaymaniyah – March 11, 2026
4- Iqbal Salehpour – Khabat Organization of Iranian Kurdistan – killed in Bashiq mountain – March 13, 2026
5- Fakhraddin Moradi – Khabat Organization of Iranian Kurdistan – killed in Bashiq mountains– March 13, 2026
6. Ghazal Maulan - Komala of the Toilers of Kurdistan , - April 14, 2026
7. Neda Miri - Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) - PDKI headquarters in Erbil’s northeastern Khalifan subdistrict - April 17, 2026
8. Samira Allayari - Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) - PDKI headquarters in Erbil’s northeastern Khalifan subdistrict - April 17, 2026
9. Shahin Azarbarzin - Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) - Jezhnikan camp - April 17, 2026
Kurdish Peshmerga forces/Kurdish security forces
10- Rêber Abdullah – Ministry of Peshmerga force – killed in Iranian missile attack in Soran – March 24, 2026
11 - Ramin Adel (Ramin Oremari) – Ministry of Peshmerga force – killed in the same attack – March 24, 2026
12- Pshtywan Mulla Musa – Ministry of Peshmerga force– killed in the same attack – March 24, 2026
13 - Shahab Bekhashashi – Ministry of Peshmerga force – killed in the same attack – March 24, 2026
14- Zakri Bekhashashi – Ministry of Peshmerga force – killed in the same attack – March 24, 2026
15- Keywan Muzaffar – Ministry of Peshmerga force– killed in the same attack – March 24, 2026
16. Waisi Akhir, who was wounded in a missile attack on a Peshmerga headquarters in Khalifan/Soran and died from injuries after two weeks in hospital - April 7 (source: AVA)
17. Walat Tahir (31) - Asayish (security) employee at Erbil Airport - drone - March 8
Civilian casualties:
18 - Musa Rasul – off duty peshmerga- killed in a drone attack (from Iran) in a village on outskirts of Erbil – April 7, 2026
19 Mujda Hassan– killed in the same attack (from Iran) – April 7, 2026
Foreign soldier
20. French Adjudant-chef (Warrant Officer) Arnaud Frion, killed in a drone attack in Peshmerga base near Makhmour on March 12, 2026
21. A man from Kenya employed by the US defense contractor V2X has been killed in a drone attack on Erbil airbase, March 24, 2026 (Source: Guardian)