ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two explosive-laden drones targeting the Khurmala oil field, southwest of Erbil, were intercepted by US-led coalition forces on Monday night, a security source told Rudaw. No casualties were reported.
The Khurmala oil field is located in the Makhmour district, approximately 60 kilometers southwest of Erbil city.
According to a senior security official, the drones entered the Kurdistan Region’s airspace and were shot down by forces from the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State (ISIS).
The source added that a third drone also entered the airspace but later disappeared, noting, "It is believed to have returned to its base.”
As of the time of publication, no information had been released regarding material damage caused by the attack.
Following the incident, the Directorate General of Counter Terrorism (CTD), also known as Kurdistan CT, announced that around 08:25 pm local time, “two explosive-laden drones were brought down over the Khurmala oil field,” adding, “Fortunately, there were no casualties,” the statement said.
Earlier on Monday, the CTD reported that another explosive-laden drone was intercepted and downed near Erbil International Airport at dawn. No injuries or property damage were reported in that incident either.
Iraq’s Security Media Cell confirmed the evening attack, stating that at 08:30 pm local time, “the Khurmala oil field in Makhmour district, west of Erbil province, was targeted by two unidentified unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). No human casualties were recorded, and the damage was limited to material losses.”
The Cell added that “coordination is ongoing with the security and intelligence forces in the Kurdistan Region to investigate the circumstances surrounding this attack.”
The Kurdistan Region has witnessed a sharp increase in drone attacks in recent weeks, particularly during and following the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran that began on June 13 and ended on June 24 with a US-brokered ceasefire.
While no party has claimed responsibility for the recent drone incursions, the Kurdistan Region’s Interior Ministry earlier in July accused the Iran-aligned Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) of involvement - an allegation swiftly rejected by Baghdad as “unacceptable.”
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has also accused the Iraqi federal government of failing to prevent or investigate the growing number of drone attacks targeting the Region.
