Erbil, northern Iraq

Erbil (Hewlêr) serves as the administrative and political heart of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq. For Israel and the broader Western alliance, Erbil represents a rare pocket of relative stability and pro-Western sentiment in a region often dominated by Iranian-aligned militias and central government instability in Baghdad. The city and its surrounding areas are of high strategic importance due to the presence of U.S. and coalition military facilities, most notably at Erbil International Airport, which serve as a logistical and operational base for counter-ISIS operations and regional monitoring.

In recent years, Erbil has increasingly become a direct target for the Iranian regime and its proxies. Tehran frequently justifies these attacks—ranging from ballistic missile strikes to loitering munitions—by claiming the city hosts Israeli intelligence assets or Kurdish opposition groups that threaten Iranian internal security. These allegations are often viewed by analysts as a pretext for Iran to project power and pressure both the KRG and the United States. The security situation in Erbil is further complicated by Turkish military operations against PKK targets in the northern Iraqi highlands, making the city a focal point for multiple overlapping regional conflicts.

For the Jewish world and Israel, Erbil holds historical significance as a center of ancient Jewish life in Mesopotamia and remains a key interest point due to the long-standing, though often discreet, relationship between Kurdish leadership and the State of Israel. As Iran continues to expand its 'land bridge' across Iraq and Syria, the resilience of Erbil as an autonomous, non-hostile entity is a vital component of Israeli and regional security architecture.