An explosive drone struck the Khor Mor gas field in the Sulaymaniyah governorate of Iraqi Kurdistan on Thursday, causing material damage and disrupting gas production.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region, marked by a series of back-and-forth attacks between Iranian-backed militias and US forces since the start of the war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza in October 2023.
The Counter-Terrorism Service in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region said air defences had successfully intercepted an explosive-laden drone targeting US forces at a base near Erbil (Hewlêr) International Airport on the same night.
However, the attack on the Khor Mor gas field, operated by the Pearl Petroleum consortium, has raised concerns about the security of the region’s strategic energy infrastructure. The gas field plays a crucial role in the region’s energy supply.
Following the attack, production at the Khor Mor gas field was temporarily halted, resulting in a cut in the flow of gas to power stations. As a result, many households in the region were left without electricity. The Kurdistan Region Ministry of Electricity issued a statement confirming the suspension of electricity production due to the disruption in gas supply.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based energy company Dana Gas, part of the Pearl Petroleum consortium, issued a statement confirming the temporary suspension of production at the gas field. The company expressed concern about the impact on the region’s energy supply and infrastructure.
No group or individual has yet claimed responsibility for the attack on the Khor Mor gas field.
