{
  "id": 8723888,
  "title": "Explosions rock area near Iraq's Erbil airport",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/explosions-rock-area-near-iraqs-erbil-airport",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T16:10:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/09/1537136/explosions-rock-area-near-iraqs-erbil-airport"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Erbil, Iraq experienced explosions near the airport on Sunday, as reported by AFP journalists. Iraqi Kurdish counterterrorism forces claimed the blasts were due to military training and security activities, posing no threat. Local Kurdish media stated the US-led coalition had detonated ordnance in the area. An AFP journalist observed grey smoke near the airport. The US-led coalition, responsible for the mission against the Islamic State group, is set to complete its withdrawal from Iraq by September 30th. They had previously withdrawn from other bases in Iraq in January and initiated their pullout from Kurdistan. The remaining US-led troops are currently stationed at Erbil airport. Tensions between Iraqi authorities and Iran-backed armed groups have been ongoing, with the coalition forces facing attacks, including the downing of explosive-laden drones. Iran has repeatedly threatened to strike US bases in Iraq's Kurdistan.",
  "summary": "ERBIL, Iraq: An explosion sounded Sunday near Erbil airport, which hosts US-led coalition troops in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, AFP journalists said.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}