Iran’s drone and missile strike on targets in Erbil in mid-January has reignited debate on the possibility of a US transfer of air defense systems to Iraqi Kurdistan. The Iranian attack incensed Iraqi Kurdish leaders, who have called for greater efforts by the international community to prevent such incidents.

The Kurdistan region of Iraq is also regularly rocked by attacks carried out by Iraqi Shiite armed groups and Turkey. Targets include bases that host US troops, critical infrastructure, and Kurdish security forces. Third-party actors based in the area, such as Iranian Kurdish dissident groups and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), are also hit. Oftentimes, ordinary civilians bear the...