Drone Strikes Cause 'Heavy Damage' to KRG Oil Infrastructure; Ministry Urges International Action

16-07-2025 01:07

Peregraf

A wave of drone strikes has inflicted significant damage on key oil infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region, the Ministry of Natural Resources said Tuesday, marking the first time such coordinated attacks have targeted multiple oil fields across the region.

The ministry confirmed that at least five oil fields have been struck in the past 35 hours, resulting in explosions, fires, and the suspension of production in some sites. "The farm infrastructure has been severely damaged," the ministry said in a statement, adding that the attacks have threatened energy security and the safety of workers in the sector.

The latest attacks occurred early Wednesday morning, targeting the Tawke, Pishkhabur, and Ain Sifni oil fields in the Zakho and Sheikhan districts of Duhok province. According to the ministry, two drones hit the DNO-operated Pishkhabur oil field at 6:00 a.m. and 6:15 a.m., while a third struck the Tawke field at 7:00 a.m. Though no casualties were reported, all sites sustained material damage.

These incidents follow two other major drone attacks: the Khurmala oil field in Erbil was hit on July 14, and the Sarsang field in Duhok, operated by HKN Energy, was attacked the following morning, causing a large explosion and halting operations.

"This is the first time drone strikes have caused such extensive damage to oil infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region. Previously, only the Khor Mor gas field had suffered similar attacks," the ministry noted.

In a strongly worded statement, the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources condemned the attacks as "terrorist" and warned of their intent to undermine the economic infrastructure of the region. "The strikes clearly aim to threaten the lives of energy workers and disrupt the region’s economic lifeline," the ministry said.

It called on the international community and the federal government in Baghdad to "come to the line as soon as possible" to help prevent further attacks and protect the region’s energy sector.

The affected fields—Khurmala, Sarsang, Ain Sifni, Tawke, and Pishkhabur—produce nearly 247,000 barrels of oil per day, out of the Kurdistan Region’s total output of 300,000 barrels, according to a recent report by Runbin for Transparency in Oil Processes.

Since June 30, at least eleven drone-related incidents have been recorded in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, and Zakho, targeting not only energy infrastructure but also military sites, refugee camps, and civilian areas. The escalation has sparked fears over the security and economic stability of the region.

In Baghdad, the Presidency of the Republic has condemned the strikes as "terrorist acts" and urged immediate action to identify and prosecute those responsible. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani has launched an investigation and stressed the need to protect Iraq’s critical infrastructure from such threats.

The Ministry of Natural Resources concluded its statement with a pledge: "Every effort will be made to protect the lives of energy workers and preserve Kurdistan’s strategic role in ensuring regional and global energy stability."