Iraq’s Muqtada al-Sadr mourns Khamenei

The Shia leader expressed his “sadness and sorrow” in a statement on X.

He also declared three days of public mourning in Iraq.

Smoke rises after drone crash near Erbil airport in Iraq: Reports

A drone has crashed near Erbil international airport in northern Iraq, according to local media reports.

A large plume of smoke was seen rising from the area where the drone hit, according to reports.

No other details are known at this stage.

On Saturday, the Erbil airport in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq was targeted twice in Iran’s response to being attacked by Israel and the US.

Air defences had intercepted the drone attacks on Saturday, according to reports.

The US is reported to still have troops in Iraq‘s autonomous Kurdish region as part of an international coalition against ISIL (ISIS).

There is a US presence at the Erbil international airport

Protests erupt in Baghdad after Khamenei’s assassination

The US and Israel’s killing of Khamenei has triggered protests in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, with demonstrators confronting security forces in the city’s Green Zone – the heavily-fortified area serving as the seat of the Iraqi government, parliament and foreign embassies.

Videos, verified by Al Jazeera, show protesters waving flags and shouting slogans. Witnesses said the protesters were attempting to mobilize to storm the US Embassy there.

The footage also shows several protesters attempting to block vehicles at a roundabout near a gate leading to the Green Zone.

Iraq announces three days of mourning over Khamenei’s killing

The Iraqi government has announced three days of national mourning over Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s assassination.

“With great sadness and sorrow, we offer our condolences to the honorable Iranian people and the entire Islamic nation on the martyrdom of the scholar and mujahid, the Supreme Leader, His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Husseini al-Khamenei, whom we consider to be among the first of the family of the Prophet,” said government spokesperson Bassem al-Awadi in remarks carried by the Iraqi News Agency.

The killing came “as a result of a blatant aggression and a reprehensible act that violates all human and moral norms, and in clear violation of international laws and conventions”, he added.

Drone shot down by US air defences near Erbil military base

US air defences have intercepted a drone over a military base near Erbil airport, according to security sources.

US embassy warns of threats to US interests in Iraq, says protests may turn violent

The US embassy in Baghdad has warned of threats against US interests in Iraq, and said protests near its compound could become violent.

The embassy said on X that it is “tracking active threats to US interests in Iraq including restaurants, businesses and individuals”.

US “citizens should remain alert to their surroundings and avoid large crowds, as demonstrations may turn violent”, it said.

Attack in western Iran kills dozens of security force members

Iranian media report more than 40 members of the security forces have been killed in a strike on the headquarters of a border regiment in the western city of Mehran, near Iraq.

“This attack, which was accompanied by bombing, unfortunately resulted in the martyrdom of 43 security personnel, most of them border guards, and parts of nearby buildings were also seriously damaged,” the Mehr news agency said.

“According to initial reports, this hostile act was carried out by agents of the United States and the Zionist regime.”

Iran uses the term “Zionist regime” to refer to Israel.

This report may refer to the Iranian Kurds on the Iraqi side of the border.

Iraqi president holds telephone call with Qatari emir

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid has held a phone call with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

“His Excellency the Iraqi president expressed the Republic of Iraq’s solidarity with the State of Qatar following the Iranian aggression against it, and his reassurance regarding the situation there,” read the statement from the Amiri Diwan, the emir’s administrative office.

“His Highness the Amir expressed his thanks and appreciation to His Excellency the Iraqi President for his sincere brotherly sentiments, praising the strong fraternal relations between the two brotherly countries,” the statement added.

Iranian and Iraqi FMs hold talks on regional situation

According to Iranian state media, Iraq’s top diplomat Fuad Hussein expressed his condolences after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during a phone call with his counterpart Abbas Araghchi.

Araghchi thanked Hussein and updated him on the latest developments, stressing the responsibility of the international community to firmly condemn “the crimes of the US and Israel” against Iran.

The US’s military action against Iran during diplomatic negotiations for the second time in the past nine months is a sign of the US Trump administration’s clear disregard for diplomacy, he said.

Protesters, police clash near US embassy in Baghdad

Angry Iraqi protesters have squared off with security forces near the US embassy in the capital Baghdad.

Protesters tried to storm Baghdad’s Green Zone, where the US embassy is located. But security forces fired tear gas to disperse them. It was their second attempt today to enter the area.

The US embassy warned earlier that demonstrations near its compound “may turn violent”.