ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi government late Wednesday announced that last week’s attack on the Kurdistan Region’s Khor Mor gas field was conducted by "two drones” and said it will deploy air-defense systems in coordination with Erbil to secure the facility. It also revealed that the perpetrators of what they called a “heinous and cowardly attack” have been identified.
Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, said in a statement that the federal defense ministry has been instructed to provide Khor Mor with air-defense capabilities “in coordination with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)” to ensure the site’s protection, based on recommendations provided by a high-level investigating committee involving intelligence and security agencies of Baghdad and Erbil.
The Khor Mor gas field, located in Sulaimani province’s Chamchamal district, came under attack last week, prompting widespread condemnation locally, regionally, and internationally.
UAE-based Dana Gas, the field’s main operator, announced Wednesday that production has returned to normal levels, noting the implementation of “strengthened security measures” by Kurdish and federal authorities to protect the strategic energy site.
“The perpetrators of this attack have been identified. They are outlaws, and judicial arrest warrants have already been issued for several of them. Security forces are currently pursuing them,” Numan said.
He added that the government has adopted recommendations from the investigative committee, including directing the Ministry of Defense - in partnership with the KRG - to deploy air-defense systems to the area.
Additional measures include redeploying security forces within the “East Salahaddin Operations sector to close any security gaps” and replacing current commanders in the area with “more competent leaders.”
The statement also called for “enhancing and developing intelligence coordination channels” between federal agencies and their counterparts in the Kurdistan Region.
It stressed that the committee’s work “remains ongoing until all individuals involved in this attack - which targeted Iraq’s sovereignty and economic resources - are apprehended.”
“This dangerous terrorist act aims to obstruct and delay efforts to achieve security and economic stability. It will not go unpunished, and firm legal measures will be taken against all perpetrators,” the statement concluded.