in Kurdistan, civilians have lived to the rhythm of attacks on American military bases since the start of the Israel-Hamas war

Since October 7 and the start of the war between Hamas and Israel, the conflict has extended to Kurdistan where the Americans have been attacked in retaliation for their support for Israel. Rocket fire, drones: the military bases targeted are sometimes located right next to civilian areas.

In Iraq this week, there were three explosions near Erbil. The city’s Christian district, Ankawa, is close to an American base. It has 50,000 inhabitants. “At four in the morning I heard the sound of explosions and sirens, comments a local resident. It woke me up. Then in the morning around nine o’clock, I heard other explosions, I was at work. And then, we continued our routine as usual…” A little further on, several men are busy playing a game of backgammon, as if nothing had happened: “No, we’re not afraid! We’re used to it, they attack regularly so it’s something usual for us,” said one. “All wars have an impact on Iraq, adds his comrade. So we stay there as if nothing happened.”

“It creates a feeling of weariness”

Here, with each resurgence of regional tension, pro-Iran groups target the Americans right next door. This is evidenced by the coalition combat helicopters which level homes on a daily basis. “We’re so used to this kind of thing, confides Dilan, a Franco-Iraqi resident of the neighborhood, that we learn to differentiate real attacks, invasions, open wars from simple one-off threats which will not necessarily have an impact in the long term. It creates a feeling of weariness among the Iraqi population. People wonder what will happen soon and this is even the main motivation for people to emigrate. It’s not so much the immediate risk but rather the lack of confidence in the future.”

Since the start of the war between Hamas and Israel, 56 American soldiers have been lightly injured at their bases in Syria and Iraq in around fifty strikes in retaliation for US support for Israel.