A drone strike on Sunday night struck the Khor Mor gasfield in Iraq’s Sulaimani province, triggering a massive fire and forcing a halt to gas production, according to Kurdistan24.
The incident occurred at 11:10 p.m. local time on Nov. 8 in the Chamchamal district of Sulaimani province, according to a statement from the Iraqi Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief’s Media Office. The attack hit the liquefied petroleum gas production unit in the Qadir Karam subdistrict. An emergency alarm sounded before the impact, allowing workers to evacuate safely, and no human casualties were reported.
According to local authorities, the disruption reduced electricity production in the Kurdistan region by 2,500 to 2,800 megawatts and interrupted gas deliveries to several power stations. Omed Ahmad, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government Ministry of Electricity, told Kurdistan24 that authorities would activate hydropower stations at the Dukan and Darbandikhan dams along with alternative fuel plants to prevent a nationwide blackout and protect essential facilities.
Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief Ali Faleh al-Zaidi ordered a joint investigative committee formed with Kurdish regional authorities to determine the circumstances of the attack, though security authorities have not officially disclosed its origin or responsible parties.
The attack is a challenge to Iraq’s sovereignty and security systems. Mohammed Amar, Kurdistan Democratic Party member and political science teacher
Mohammed Amar warned that continuing attacks could harm foreign investment in the energy sector, noting that previous strikes on the gasfield led Kurdish officials to suspect Iran-backed armed groups. The incident follows heightened regional tensions, alongside ongoing political friction between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.
