Drone attacks continue on Kurdistan oil fields as investigations underway

Drone attacks targeting oil infrastructure in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region have continued in recent days, with no group claiming responsibility and both Baghdad and Erbil refraining from directly accusing any party, despite parallel investigations.

Late on Wednesday, a drone targeted the US-operated Hunt Oil facility in Bahadre, located in the Shekhan district of Duhok province, at approximately 7:10 PM, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Region's Directorate General of Counter-Terrorism (CTD). No casualties were reported.

Earlier the same day, explosive-laden drones struck three additional oil fields, including two operated by Norwegian energy firm DNO ASA. The company has since suspended operations at both the Tawke and Peshkabir fields, located in Duhok province. One drone reportedly struck a small storage tank at Tawke, while another damaged surface processing equipment at Peshkabir. The company is currently assessing the extent of the damage.

Another drone attack at 7:14 AM also targeted the Hunt Oil facility, and no casualties or structural damage were reported.

These latest incidents come on the heels of a similar drone strike on Tuesday, which forced the US firm HKN Energy to halt operations at the Sarsang field in Duhok province. On Monday, two drones hit the Khurmala oil field, while a third was intercepted near Erbil International Airport.

In response, Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, has ordered an "immediate and thorough" investigation into the attacks, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA). As of publication, no official statement has identified those responsible.

The New Arab reached out to Miqdad Miri, spokesperson for Iraq's Interior Ministry, as well as an Iraqi MP, but neither responded to requests for comment.

Rising tensions

The spate of attacks comes amid heightened tensions between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government in Baghdad over oil revenues and export controls.

On Tuesday, the KRG Council of Ministers, chaired by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and attended by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, held a session condemning the drone strikes, which they described as "terrorist attacks" targeting the Iraqi Kurdistan Region's economic infrastructure. The Council called on the federal government to take responsibility for preventing further attacks and to pursue legal action against the perpetrators.

The Council also discussed the region's financial situation and ongoing negotiations with Baghdad. Prime Minister Barzani and his deputy briefed ministers on a new understanding reached with the federal government over financial entitlements and public sector salaries. The Council endorsed the agreement, which includes the handover of KRG oil to Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO), in exchange for the release of public salaries for May and June.

The federal government is expected to endorse the agreement during its upcoming Council of Ministers session.

The KRG’s Ministry of Natural Resources also condemned the drone strikes, labelling them acts of "terrorism" that caused "significant damage" to production facilities. While officials have avoided assigning blame, some Kurdish politicians have pointed fingers at Iran-backed militias, though no evidence has been presented to support these claims.

The Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR) also issued a strong condemnation of the 15 and 16 July attacks on its member companies’ facilities.

"These attacks threatened the lives and safety of our predominantly Iraqi workforce and expatriate staff of various nationalities, and also damaged facilities," APIKUR said in a statement. "The majority of member companies, including those not directly targeted, have suspended production."

APIKUR called on both the Iraqi government and the KRG to take stronger measures to ensure the safety of oil workers and infrastructure.

Speaking to TNA, APIKUR spokesperson Colonel Myles B. Caggins III said, "The Government of Iraq and the KRG are investigating. We do not want to publicly speculate on who is responsible for the attacks. The attacks harm the people, economy, and reputation of Iraq."

The ongoing attacks come against the backdrop of long-standing legal and technical disputes that have kept a key oil export pipeline to Turkey closed since 2023, further complicating already strained relations between Erbil and Baghdad.