KATHMANDU: There were 809 drone and missile attacks in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region from February 28 to April 20, according to local officials.

The attacks killed 20 civilians and wounded 123. According to a statement issued by the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Communications and Information Department, most of the attacks targeted civilian areas, although the region has declared neutrality in the ongoing regional conflict.

The statement noted that the civilian and private sectors suffered the most human and material losses. Erbil province has the highest number of 477 attacks, including 419 drone attacks and 58 missile attacks. Ten people have been killed and 83 injured in those attacks.

The Kurdistan Regional Government said the attacks on civilian areas were carried out under various “baseless pretexts”. The attacks come amid heightened regional tensions following a joint U.S.-Israeli offensive that began on Feb. 28, in response to which Iran and its allies have launched attacks targeting U.S. and Israeli interests across the Middle East.