JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Local families who have relatives in Iraq and Iran are bracing for what’s next after Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles targeting military bases in Iraq Tuesday.
The family of an Action News Jax photographer, who’s from Iraq, heard the explosions overnight.
Some of Diar Gilyana’s family members live in Erbil which is the capital of Kurdistan, an autonomous region in northern Iraq.
Gilyana was born and raised in Erbil, a city he loves, but in 2014 he, his wife and his young daughter had to leave in search of safety.
Since the news of Iran launching missiles into Iraq, he’s been in constant contact with his family and friends.
“That was kind of a surprise for us. Everybody at home, even my wife, she was really scared; she called her parents, they were really scared,” said Gilyana.
It was surprising because Erbil is known as one of the more stable cities in the region.
But thankfully it was just a scare.
“Luckily there was nothing, no damage, no casualties, so it was all good, but people were really scared,” said Gilyana.
He worries about what could happen next.
“As of right now Iraq is a battlefield for both sides,” said Gilyana.
The state department has urged Americans in Iraq to leave the country immediately.
Travel advisories have also been issued for other areas of the Middle East.
Right now, Iraq is at the highest level, a level 4, meaning “do not travel”.
Action News Jax also spoke with Zane Ziebell, who’s a U.S. citizen living in Erbil.
He moved to Erbil three years ago for work and has since started a family there.
He spoke to us on Skype.
“Everyone was surprised -- middle of the night when we did start hearing some explosions,” said Ziebell.
On Wednesday, Ziebell described the mood as calm.
“I expected people to be a little bit more freaked out in the following day, but it was business as usual, everybody was going to work,” said Ziebell.
Ziebell said the missiles were concerning but he still feels safe.
“I think everything’s going to be fine here, especially after the president’s statement where he did say he’s willing to negotiate and seek peace with Iran,” said Ziebell.
The region of Erbil is not governed by Baghdad -- it has its own Kurdish government.
Ziebell describes Erbil as a very American-friendly region, which is why he’s chosen the area to raise his family.
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