Renewed Iranian Strikes in Iraqi Kurdistan Leave Casualties

Tehran previously launched attacks that killed more than a dozen people in Iraq's Kurdistan region in late September. Reuters file photo
Tehran previously launched attacks that killed more than a dozen people in Iraq's Kurdistan region in late September. Reuters file photo
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Renewed Iranian Strikes in Iraqi Kurdistan Leave Casualties

Tehran previously launched attacks that killed more than a dozen people in Iraq's Kurdistan region in late September. Reuters file photo
Tehran previously launched attacks that killed more than a dozen people in Iraq's Kurdistan region in late September. Reuters file photo

One person was killed and at least 8 others were wounded on Monday when Iranian rockets and drones hit the headquarters of Iranian Kurdish parties in the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq.

An Iranian military source confirmed that "Iran has carried out attacks with drones and missiles targeting the headquarters of terrorist parties in the northern region of Iraq," said Iran's Fars News Agency, managed by the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Iran has been hit by almost two months of protests since the death of Kurdish Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, 22, after she was arrested by the country's morality police for allegedly breaching the strict dress code for women.

Tehran previously launched attacks that killed more than a dozen people in Iraq's Kurdistan region in late September, after accusing Kurdish armed groups based there of stoking the wave of unrest.

Monday's attacks struck targets near Erbil and Sulaimaniya. A hospital official in the Iraqi Kurdish city of Koye told Reuters that two people were killed and at least 10 wounded in the attacks.

Tariq al-Haidari, mayor of Koysanjaq, told AFP that "five Iranian missiles targeted a building used by the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran".

"One person is dead and eight wounded," said the health ministry in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Other strikes hit elsewhere in Iraqi Kurdistan.

"Four drone strikes" targeted bases of the Iranian Communist Party and the Iranian Kurdish nationalist group Komala in the Zrgoiz region, said Atta Seqzi, one of the leaders of Komala.

The UN mission in Iraq condemned the renewed Iranian missile and drone attacks, which it said “violate Iraqi sovereignty.”

“Iraq should not be used as an arena to settle scores and its territorial integrity must be respected. Dialogue between Iraq and Iran over mutual security concerns is the only way forward,” said UNAMI.

The US Consulate in Erbil also condemned the attack on Iraqi Kurdistan.

It called on Iran “to stop attacking its neighbor and the people of Iraq,” and condemned the violation of Iraqi sovereignty.



Israel’s Purchase of ‘Stolen’ Ukrainian Grain Is Not ‘Legitimate’, Zelenskiy Says

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives to attend an informal European leaders' summit in Ayia Napa, Cyprus April 23, 2026. (Reuters)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives to attend an informal European leaders' summit in Ayia Napa, Cyprus April 23, 2026. (Reuters)
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Israel’s Purchase of ‘Stolen’ Ukrainian Grain Is Not ‘Legitimate’, Zelenskiy Says

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives to attend an informal European leaders' summit in Ayia Napa, Cyprus April 23, 2026. (Reuters)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives to attend an informal European leaders' summit in Ayia Napa, Cyprus April 23, 2026. (Reuters)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that Israel's purchase of grain from occupied Ukrainian territory "stolen" by Russia "cannot be legitimate business" and that Kyiv was readying sanctions against those attempting to profit from it.

"Another vessel carrying such grain has arrived at a port in Israel and is preparing to unload," Zelenskiy said on X. "This is ‌not – and cannot ‌be – legitimate business."

"The Israeli ‌authorities ⁠cannot be unaware ⁠of which ships are arriving at the country's ports and what cargo they are carrying," he added.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Monday that Israel's ambassador had been summoned to his ministry over what he ⁠described as Israeli inaction in allowing ‌shipments of grain to ‌enter the country from Russian-occupied Ukraine.

Israeli Foreign ‌Minister Gideon Saar told Sybiha that Ukraine had ‌provided no evidence to support allegations that the grain was "stolen".

Kyiv considers all grain produced in the four regions Russia claimed as its own since ‌invading Ukraine in 2022, and Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, ⁠to ⁠have been stolen by Moscow.

Russia refers to the four regions as its "new territories", but they are still internationally recognized as Ukrainian.

"Russia is systematically seizing grain on temporarily occupied Ukrainian land and organizing its export through individuals linked to the occupiers," Zelenskiy said.

"Such schemes violate the laws of the State of Israel itself."

He added that Ukraine expected Israel to respect Ukraine and refrain from actions that undermine bilateral relations.


Iran Says US No Longer in Position to ‘Dictate’ Policy to Other Nations

 Women carry Iranian flags as they cross an intersection to attend a pro-government gathering in Tehran, Iran, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP)
Women carry Iranian flags as they cross an intersection to attend a pro-government gathering in Tehran, Iran, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP)
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Iran Says US No Longer in Position to ‘Dictate’ Policy to Other Nations

 Women carry Iranian flags as they cross an intersection to attend a pro-government gathering in Tehran, Iran, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP)
Women carry Iranian flags as they cross an intersection to attend a pro-government gathering in Tehran, Iran, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP)

Iran said on Tuesday that the United States was no longer able to "dictate" what other countries do, as Washington weighed a new proposal from Tehran on unblocking the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has effectively sealed off the strategic waterway since early in the war with the United States and Israel, sending shockwaves through global energy markets and putting the strait at the center of negotiations to end the conflict.

"The United States is no longer in a position to dictate its policy to independent nations," defense ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik said, according to state TV, adding Washington would "accept that it must abandon its illegal and irrational demands".

While a ceasefire has halted the fighting between Iran, the US and Israel, talks on bringing a permanent conclusion to the conflict have been inconclusive.

The proposal being considered in Washington would reportedly reopen the Strait of Hormuz -- a vital conduit for global oil and gas shipments -- as broader negotiations on the war continue.

Talaei-Nik, speaking ahead of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization defense ministers' meeting, said Iran was also "ready to share its defensive military capabilities with independent countries, especially the member states" of the SCO.


Philippines Is Not Concerned Iran War Will Distract US from Region, Defense Secretary Says

Troops from New Zealand, the Philippines, US, and Australia pose for a photo with their national flags after participating in counter-landing live fire exercises during Balikatan, the annual joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines, at Long Point Beach, Brgy. Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. (Reuters)
Troops from New Zealand, the Philippines, US, and Australia pose for a photo with their national flags after participating in counter-landing live fire exercises during Balikatan, the annual joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines, at Long Point Beach, Brgy. Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. (Reuters)
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Philippines Is Not Concerned Iran War Will Distract US from Region, Defense Secretary Says

Troops from New Zealand, the Philippines, US, and Australia pose for a photo with their national flags after participating in counter-landing live fire exercises during Balikatan, the annual joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines, at Long Point Beach, Brgy. Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. (Reuters)
Troops from New Zealand, the Philippines, US, and Australia pose for a photo with their national flags after participating in counter-landing live fire exercises during Balikatan, the annual joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines, at Long Point Beach, Brgy. Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. (Reuters)

The Philippines is not worried about any reduction in US deterrence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific due to the Middle East war, though China would likely try to seize on any perceived opening, the Defense Secretary said ‌on Tuesday.

China's recent ‌actions in the ‌South ⁠China Sea and ⁠the Taiwan Strait were "not surprising", Gilberto Teodoro told Reuters in an interview, saying Beijing looked to take advantage when it thought rival powers were preoccupied ⁠elsewhere.

"It is not surprising ‌that ‌any opportunity they see, perceived opportunity, or ‌with a perceived weakness ‌or a perceived opening, they will take advantage," Teodoro said.

Teodoro said he had full confidence in the ‌Mutual Defense Treaty, the long-standing security pact between Manila ⁠and Washington, ⁠and was not worried by concerns that the Iran war could weaken US strategic bandwidth in Asia.

"I'm not concerned at all about reduced deterrence," he said, pointing to joint military exercises currently underway with the US as a sign of Washington's commitment.