#Iraq – On March 4, 2026, around 8 p.m. local time, the Christian-majority neighborhood of Ankawa (a suburb of Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan) was hit during an apparent drone and rocket attack. This damaged Chaldean Catholic Church-owned facilities, including a residential apartment complex and a nearby convent.
Blessed Michael McGivney Apartment Complex (also called McGivney House or McGivney Charity Complex): A housing block owned by the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil. It provides homes for diocesan workers and young Christian families displaced by years of violence (including the ISIS period). It includes a chapel. The strike or falling debris caused significant structural damage, including inside the chapel (dust, debris, and holes reported). The complex was funded with support from the Knights of Columbus.
Convent of the Chaldean Daughters of Mary Immaculate: A nearby convent housing nuns. It sustained damage (described as a big hole in the building next to the chapel), along with some impact on adjacent areas like a catechism center.
The affected area is part of a broader Chaldean Catholic church complex that includes housing, a chapel, and support for the local Christian community in Ankawa, a historic Christian town.
No casualties or injuries were reported, which local Church leaders described as “miraculous” or a reason to “thank God for the safety of everyone.” Many residents had reportedly been evacuated or were not in the most affected spots at the time.
Damage was primarily structural, with photos showing debris in the chapel and holes in buildings. The incident caused shock and fear among the local Christian population.
The attack occurred amid heightened regional tensions in the region between the Israel-United States coalition versus Iran. Neither parties have claimed responsibility for the attack, and it is unclear which side could have been responsible.
Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda of Erbil issued statements expressing gratitude for no loss of life while highlighting the vulnerability of the Christian community. He and others called for prayers and international solidarity/peace.
Local clergy (e.g., Fr. Karam Shamasha) expressed sorrow over the damage but emphasized the need for peace.
Image: security footage showed the moment in which two drones had hit the property; additional photos detail the extent of damage.
