Explosions near Erbil airport in northern Iraq’s Kurdistan Region have been reported on March 1, 2026, as part of Iran’s escalating retaliation following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, including the confirmed death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
U.S. troops remain present in Erbil as part of the international anti-ISIS coalition, with a planned withdrawal from broader Iraqi facilities by September 2026 under a U.S.-Iraq agreement. The strikes highlight the vulnerability of U.S. assets in the region amid escalating tensions.
The incident disrupted air travel: Erbil airport operations were affected, and several airlines suspended flights to the city, Tehran, and other hotspots until early March.
As of March 1, 2026 (early morning IST), the situation remains tense with ongoing threats of intensified Iranian retaliation. No major American casualties have been reported from the regional barrages, per U.S. military statements.
This development underscores the rapid spread of the U.S.-Iran-Israel conflict into neighboring countries hosting coalition forces, raising fears of a wider Middle East war.