ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region’s natural resources ministry on Wednesday condemned a series of "terrorist" drone attacks targeting oil fields in the northern Duhok province, stating that the assaults aim to cripple the Region’s economic infrastructure.
In a statement, the ministry said that “several terrorist attacks were carried out via bombing drones against the oil fields of Tawke and Peshkhabour” in the Zakho Independent Administration, as well as the Ain Safni oil field in the Sheikhan district. While the attacks resulted in no casualties, the ministry confirmed they caused "significant damage" to the infrastructure.
The ministry called on “the [Iraqi] federal government and the international community to act swiftly to protect the lives of civilian employees and energy security, and to prevent further attacks on Kurdistan's energy sector."
Earlier Wednesday, the Erbil-based Directorate General of Counter Terrorism (CTD), also known as Kurdistan CT, reported that between 6:00 and 6:15 am local time, the oil field in Peshkhabour was “targeted by two explosive-laden drones,” followed by a third drone strike at 7:00 am on the Tawke field.
The oil fields are operated by Norwegian oil and gas operator DNO Asa.
The company confirmed the attacks in a Wednesday statement, adding that its operations at oil fields “have been temporarily suspended following three explosions early this morning, one involving a small storage tank” in Tawke, and “the other involving surface processing equipment” at Peshkhabour.
Although no injuries were reported, DNO Asa said a damage assessment is ongoing and production will resume once it is complete.
For its part, Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP), the operator of the Sheikhan oil field, said it had "noted reports over the past two days of explosions at a number of oil fields in the vicinity" and, as a precaution, had temporarily shut in production and implemented staff safety measures. The company noted its assets had not been directly impacted but added it is “closely monitoring the situation.”
Wednesday marked the third consecutive day of drone attacks targeting oil infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region.
On Tuesday, a drone attack had targeted the Sarsang oil field in Duhok, operated by the US-based HKN Energy, which holds a 62 percent stake in the field.
In a statement posted to its official Facebook page, HKN Energy confirmed “an explosion occurred” at the field at around 7:00 am local time. “All personnel have been safely accounted for, and no injuries have been reported,” the company said, adding that “operations at the affected facility have been suspended until the site is secured and a full evaluation is completed.”
A day prior, on Monday, two explosive-laden drones targeted the Khurmala oil field, southwest of Erbil. A security source, who spoke to Rudaw anonymously on Monday, said the drones were intercepted by US-led coalition forces, and that no injuries were reported.
The Kurdistan Region Presidency on Tuesday strongly condemned the repeated drone attacks, urging the federal government in Baghdad to take urgent measures to prevent further attacks and bring those responsible to justice.
The Iraqi presidency, premiership and parliament on the same day denounced the incidents, calling them a flagrant assault on national security and stability.
Drone strikes in the Kurdistan Region have increased since the outbreak of a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran that began on June 13 and ended with a US-brokered ceasefire.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the latest attacks, the Region’s interior ministry in early July accused the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) of involvement - a charge dismissed by Baghdad as “unacceptable.”
