In a statement, the United States Department of State said Rubio expressed “gratitude” to the KRG for enabling oil from Iraq, including from the Kurdistan region, to reach international markets at a time when global prices have been unsettled by the conflict.

Rubio also conveyed condolences to families of Kurdish Peshmerga fighters killed in a March 24 missile attack and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. Kurdish authorities said at least six fighters were killed and about 30 wounded when missiles struck a military base north of Irbil.

A Peshmerga statement attributed the attack to Iran, describing it as a “treacherous attack” involving ballistic missiles targeting a headquarters facility in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The Iran war, which began on February 28 following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, has widened into a broader regional confrontation. Tehran has since launched retaliatory attacks on Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. bases, while Israeli strikes have extended into Lebanon.

The escalation has rattled global markets, particularly oil, as supply routes and production hubs face heightened risk.Policy signals from WashingtonU.S.

President Donald Trump has offered varying objectives for the conflict, ranging from regime change in Iran to degrading its military and missile capabilities.

On Thursday, he said he believed his side had prevailed in the war, even as hostilities and their economic fallout continue.

The call with Kurdish leadership highlights Washington’s focus on maintaining energy flows and regional partnerships amid ongoing instability.

The missile hit a hair salon in the town of Beit Awwa, southwest of Hebron, the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency WAFA reported. Thirteen people were wounded, including one in serious condition.

The Israeli military said its initial assessment indicated the strike was caused by a cluster munition, a type of warhead that disperses multiple smaller bomblets over a wide area, increasing the risk to civilians.

Iran has launched daily missile attacks toward Israel since the conflict escalated at the end of February, though there have been no prior reports of it deliberately targeting Palestinian areas in the West Bank.

Unlike most Israeli cities, where bomb shelters are widely available, Palestinians in the West Bank have limited access to protective infrastructure. Many rely on sirens from nearby Israeli settlements or cities for warning of incoming attacks.

The disparity in civil defence measures has heightened risks for civilians as missile exchanges intensify across the region.Rising toll amid regional warAt least 15 people have been killed in Israel since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, triggering the current conflict.

The latest incident underscores the widening geographic and human impact of hostilities.The strike comes as streets across the West Bank have been crowded in recent days, with families preparing for Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan.