Explosions Near Erbil Airport; Iran-Backed Militias Hit US Coalition Base and HKN Oil Field

AFP news agency reported explosions near Erbil airport in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region on Day 7 afternoon, a site hosting US-led coalition troops. Iraqi Kurdish authorities separately confirmed that oil production at a field operated by US firm HKN Energy had been halted following an attack. Several Iran-backed armed factions have claimed attacks on the US base at Erbil airport in recent days, reflecting a widening of the conflict as Iran-backed militias across the region intensify operations against US, Israeli, and allied targets. The Erbil strikes represent the extension of the proxy war front into Iraqi Kurdistan, a region that had maintained relative stability. The HKN Energy field halt adds to the energy disruption already caused by Qatar's LNG suspension and the Hormuz closure. The Guardian reported separately that Iran-backed militias are intensifying attacks against the US, Israel, and their allies across Iraq, Syria, and the Gulf.