The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on September 28 that it had launched ballistic missiles and drones against Iranian Kurdish militants based in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. According to Iraqi state media, the strikes landed near Erbil and Sulaimaniya, killing 13 and wounding 58, including civilians. Iran had earlier accused the militants of supporting protests across Iran. Iraq criticized the Iranian operation as a breach of its sovereignty. The same day, U.S. forces reported downing an Iranian drone heading toward Erbil.