French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday strongly condemned a drone attack targeting the residence of Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani in Duhok during a phone call with the Kurdish leader, according to a statement issued by the Kurdistan Region Presidency.

Macron reiterated France’s continued support for both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, emphasizing solidarity following a series of recent attacks in the region. The French president also expressed condolences for the deaths of Peshmerga fighters killed in an Iranian ballistic missile strike in the Soran district of Erbil.

The drone strike on President Barzani’s residence occurred amid a wave of attacks across the Kurdistan Region. More than half a dozen drone strikes were reported on Saturday alone, nearly a week after a missile attack launched by Iran killed six Peshmerga fighters and injured 30 others in the Soran district of Erbil.

During the call, President Barzani expressed gratitude to Macron for France’s continued support and its international stance backing stability in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Both leaders also discussed the escalating tensions in the wider region and stressed the importance of resolving conflicts through diplomatic means.

The parliamentary bloc of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Baghdad condemned the attack, describing it as a “cowardly act” aimed at undermining the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region. President Barzani serves as the party’s deputy leader.

The bloc stated that such actions would not weaken the determination of the Kurdish people to protect their constitutional rights and called on authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible.

Several Iraqi political leaders also condemned the attack. Khamis al-Khanjar described the incident as a terrorist act and warned of the growing threat posed by non-state armed groups to Iraq’s institutions. He praised President Barzani as a key figure promoting dialogue and cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil.

Similarly, Osama al-Nujaifi, head of the Salvation and Development Front, called for the perpetrators to be pursued and punished.

Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani was among the first officials to condemn the attack. His office announced the formation of a joint security and technical committee composed of federal and regional authorities to investigate the incident, identify those responsible, and take legal action.

Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani also condemned the attack, describing it as a dangerous escalation and warning that outlawed armed groups have increasingly become a threat to the stability of both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

The Kurdistan Region has recently been drawn into the broader tensions linked to the Iran-Israel-United States confrontation. Since late February, pro-Iran armed groups aligned with Tehran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance” have reportedly carried out hundreds of attacks against alleged American targets in the region.

Despite repeated assurances from Kurdish authorities that the Kurdistan Region will not allow its territory to be used to launch attacks against neighboring countries, the strikes have continued.

Meanwhile, Fuad Hussein stated that Baghdad has struggled to control pro-Iran armed groups due to their political and military influence. According to Hussein, these groups possess significant military strength, organizational capacity, and representation in parliament, making efforts to curb their activities particularly challenging.