Iran and Iran-aligned Iraqi militias have conducted over 1,000 drone and missile strikes on the Kurdistan Region since late February 2026, primarily targeting camps of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups and sites linked to U.S. interests. Recent activity includes two explosive-laden drones striking a refugee camp near Erbil on October 8 with no reported casualties, following a pattern of attacks attributed to Tehran or Popular Mobilization Forces factions. Iran's consul in Erbil has indicated further strikes remain possible due to alleged foreign intelligence activity and opposition presence. The September 30 U.S. force withdrawal from Iraq has heightened concerns over a potential security vacuum, while Baghdad investigates militia-linked incidents, closes select Iran border crossings, and seeks to centralize control over armed groups ahead of parliamentary elections. These dynamics reflect ongoing proxy friction within the wider U.S.-Iran conflict, with trader focus on escalation risks tied to opposition sanctuaries and militia autonomy.