Iranian IRGC commander, Quds Force chief since 2020
Kurdistan authorities have reported Iranian-launched drones struck the private office of KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and the residence of the region's security agency chief on 17 August, with no casualties. The attacks come as Baghdad presses for a September 30 deadline to bring armed factions under state control and as cross-border strikes and US-Saudi operations have raised tensions across Iraq.
Iraq has set Sept. 30 as the fixed date to end the military mission of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and to transfer bases to Iraqi forces, with US-led coalition drawing down in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. Officials say the pullout is on track, though disarmament of non-state groups remains unresolved and militias may resist the deadline.
The government has signaled it may extend talks on weapon handover to state control beyond the September deadline as negotiations with Iran-aligned factions continue. Talks are ongoing, with mediation from Coordination Framework leaders, and the aim remains to restrict weapons to the state while avoiding a confrontation.