A 7.3-magnitude earthquake has rattled the northern border region between Iran and Iraq, killing at least 135 people and injuring hundreds more. At least 129 people died in western Iran’s Kermanshah province. Six more were reported dead in Iraq. The death toll is likely to rise. The earthquake sparked panic, with fears of aftershocks sending residents out into the streets.
Meanwhile, a local anti-drug directorate on Sunday announced they had confiscated millions of illegal pills in the province of Sulaimani. Four people were arrested for smuggling two million Tramadol pills, hidden inside cigarette packs. He mentioned the detainees were not from Sulaimani, and that they have prior arrests for being involved in the trafficking of illegal substances.
Lastly, a helicopter crashed on Sunday during a military training operation in the southeast of Baghdad. The Mi-17 helicopter fell during a ‘training’ mission in Shuwaijah area, eastern of Kut city in Wasit province. All seven soldiers who were in the helicopter were killed.