BAGHDAD (AP) – On Wednesday, drones targeted oil fields in Iraq's semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region, marking the latest in a series of drone attacks that have recently put various oil facilities out of operation. The wave of attacks has increased tensions between the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdish authorities, but no group has claimed responsibility for the assaults.
The Kurdish region’s anti-terrorism department reported that two drones struck an oil field located in the district of Zakho. While the attacks resulted in material damage, there were no reported injuries. In response to the incidents, DNO ASA, a Norwegian oil and gas company managing the field, announced a temporary suspension of its operations following three explosions early in the morning. These explosions included one incident involving a small storage tank at Tawke and another affecting surface processing equipment at Peshkabir. A damage assessment is currently underway.
This drone attack occurred just one day after another oil field in Iraq’s Dohuk province, operated by a U.S. company, was set ablaze following a similar drone strike. The Kurdish region’s Ministry of Natural Resources condemned the attacks, stating that they were designed to disrupt the economy of the Kurdistan Region and pose a threat to the safety of civilian employees in the energy sector. They called on federal authorities to intervene to prevent further escalations.
Earlier this month, the Kurdish regional government accused the Popular Mobilization Forces—a coalition of Iran-aligned militias that fall under the command of the Iraqi military—of carrying out drone strikes. However, the Iraqi army refuted these allegations, labeling them as “issued in the absence of evidence” and warned that such accusations might provide hostile parties with justifications to undermine Iraq's stability.
Iran-backed armed groups have a history of targeting U.S. bases in both Iraq and Syria. Recently, amid the tensions surrounding the Israel-Iran conflict, some of these groups threatened to retaliate against U.S. interests and bases in the region should Washington choose to intervene.
This situation is indicative of the ongoing volatility in the region, illustrating how drone warfare has become a critical element in the conflicts involving various factions in Iraq. The ramifications of these attacks extend beyond immediate physical damage, potentially affecting Iraq's oil exports and the economic stability of the Kurdish region.
