Drones attacked oil fields in the Kurdish semi-autonomous region in northern Iraq on Wednesday, the latest in a series of attacks in recent days that have placed several out-of-operation oil facilities. No group claimed responsibility for the attacks, which exacerbated tensions between the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdish authorities.
The Kurdish region’s anti -terrorism department said two drones attacked a oil field in the Zakho district, causing damage but without injuries.
DNO ASA, a Norwegian oil and gas company operating the field, said its operations were temporarily suspended after three explosions involving a small Tawke storage tank and Peshkabir surface processing equipment. The company stated that there were no injuries and an assessment of the damage was underway.
Hours later, the anti -terrorism department reported that the Badre oil field, located in Sheikhan district, in Dohuk province, was the target of a drone attack. There were no injuries. Videos showed a column of smoke rising over arid hills.
The attacks occurred one day after another oil field in Dohuk province, operated by an American company, was set on fire, also after being hit by a drone.
The Kurdish Ministry of Natural Resources said the attacks aim to “destabilize the economy of the Curdistan region and threaten the safety of civil servants in the power sector,” and asked federal authorities to intervene to stop them.
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Iraqi oil expert Hamza al-Jawahiri said that the attack on oil fields in the Kurdish region would not affect global oil prices and that oil production in southern Iraq is sufficient to compensate for any resulting scarcity. Fields in northern Iraq produce about 500,000 barrels per day (BPD).
