ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday condemned the drone attack on Kurdistan Region’s main gas field. He also called on Baghdad to find the perpetrators and Washington to provide defensive equipment to protect “civilian infrastructure.”
“I condemn the cowardly attack on the Khor Mor gas field in the strongest terms and urge the federal government to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice,” said Barzani on X.
“The usual terrorists or whoever may be behind tonight’s attacks cannot be allowed to repeat these crimes or be released on bail, as in the past,” he added.
Khor Mor gas field in Sulaimani province came under a drone attack late Wednesday, causing a blaze which is yet to be controlled. The attack has also caused a partial blackout across the Kurdistan Region.
The Kurdistan Region’s Department of Media and Information said the attack has reduced electricity production from 4,000 megawatts to 1,000, adding that the government can no longer provide 24-hour power as part of the Runaki project. Electricity can now be supplied for only five hours a day.
Iraq's Security Media Cell labeled the drone attack as "treacherous" and "serious terrorist act." It added that the attack did not cause any casualties.
Located in Chamchamal district, Khor Mor gas field is operated by Pearl Petroleum, a consortium that includes UAE-based Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum. The field has come under numerous Katyusha and drone attacks in recent years, and the Kurdish authorities have blamed Iran-backed militia groups.
A drone on the field in April last year killed four Yemeni nationals, temporarily suspending production and disrupting electricity across the Kurdistan Region.
No group has claimed responsibility for the Wednesday drone attack but similar attacks on the field in recent years have been blamed on Iraqi militia groups.
The Prime Minister reiterated the Region’s call on the international partners, especially Washington, to help protect civilian infrastructure.
“I also urge our American and international partners to provide the defensive equipment necessary to protect our civilian infrastructure, and to support us in taking serious action to deter these attacks on our people and our progress,” he said.
Kurdistan Region has previously asked the United States to provide the Kurdistan Region with a defence system after recent drone attacks targeted oil fields including some operated by American companies.
“They [the attacks] are concerning, given that we are trying to create self-reliance in the fields of oil and gas in Iraq. These attempts are aimed at preventing the development of the fields. We have discussed this [with the Americans] and they are concerned. We have also discussed the establishment of a defence system, not just to protect the interests of the American and foreign companies but those of Kurdistan and Iraq too,” Safeen Dizayee, head of the Department of Foreign Relations in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), told Rudaw in July.
The KRG has directly accused Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which includes pro-Iran groups, of being behind some of the drone attacks in the past. Baghdad has denied the charge.
Aziz Ahmad, Deputy Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Barzani, indirectly accused Iraq’s militia groups for the latest Khor Mor drone attack.
“The usual terrorists on the federal government’s payroll have once again attacked our critical Khor Mor gas field, leading to blackouts in neighbourhoods across the Kurdistan Region,” he said on X.
He added that Kurdistan Region’s transfer of electricity to federally controlled areas have also been controlled.
“Electricity exports to the rest of Iraq — roughly 10% of the country’s entire generation — have also flatlined,” he said.
He also backed Prime Minister Barzani’s call for international support.
“How many attacks must happen before the US government simply allows the KRG to purchase kinetic anti-drone equipment for us to defend our skies and critical infrastructure? The Iraqi government isn’t interested,” he said.