Iranian drone attack kills Kurds in Iraq

The Kurdish Regional Government’s Health Ministry said Wednesday that the Iranian bombing campaign in northern Iraq wounded 32 people and killed at least 9. The Iranian government said it targeted bases of a Kurdish armed opposition force banned in Iran.

Why the attacks—and why now? Iran carried out the drone strikes as riots continued over the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman who died in the custody of the country’s morality police. Protests have spread across at least 46 cities, towns, and villages in Iran—in addition to anti-Iran demonstrations held in other countries. Iranian state television has reported that at least 41 protesters and police have been killed since the demonstrations began Sept. 17. Official statements indicate that authorities have arrested more than 1,500 demonstrators.

Dig deeper: Read Mindy Belz’s report from the WORLD archives about how Kurdish forces fought against Islamic State in 2016.