Within 24 hours, several strategically important oil facilities in the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) have been targeted by drone attacks. According to authorities, the attacks were directed against the Hurmala oil fields in the Hewlêr (Erbil) governorate and on the Sersing oil facility in Duhok. According to official reports, no one was injured, but there was property damage and disruptions to operations.
On Monday evening, between 8:20 p.m. and 8:25 p.m. local time, two drones loaded with explosives struck the Hurmala oil fields. According to the KRI’s anti-terrorism agency, the drones were shot down, but damage was caused to parts of the technical infrastructure, particularly water pipes. The Ministry of Natural Resources confirmed the attack and described it as a targeted strike against the region’s economic infrastructure.
Early Tuesday morning, another attack targeted the Sersink facility near the town of Amadiya, which belongs to Duhok. The US company HKN Energy, which operates there, confirmed an explosion on the site at around 7 a.m. A fire that broke out could not be completely extinguished at first. Here, too, the staff remained unharmed. Whether the explosion was caused by a drone or another weapon is the subject of ongoing investigations. However, the authorities assume that it was a drone attack.
Government condemns the attacks
The Presidency of the Kurdistan Region strongly condemned the drone attacks, calling them an attack on the region’s sovereignty, stability, and investment security. An official statement said: “These targeted attacks on oil infrastructure not only undermine the economic development of the region, but also pose a threat to internal security and international investors.” The Kurdistan regional government called on the Iraqi central government in Baghdad to take measures to identify those responsible and hold them accountable.
Background unclear
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks. There is also no reliable information about the origin of the drones. According to its own statements, the air force of the international coalition was involved in defending Hewlêr against the drones. The authorities announced that they would be stepping up security measures around critical facilities.
US calls on Iraqi government to prevent armed actors from launching attacks
A post by the US embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday said: “The United States condemns the recent drone attacks throughout Iraq, including the July 14 and July 15 drone attacks on critical infrastructure at the Khormala and Sarsang oil fields in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. The Government of Iraq must exercise its authority to prevent armed actors from launching these attacks against sites within its own territory, including locations where Iraqi and international companies have invested in Iraq’s future. These attacks are unacceptable, undermine Iraq’s sovereignty, and hurt Iraq’s efforts to attract foreign investment. We urge the Government of Iraq to investigate who is behind these attacks and hold them accountable.”
Source: ANF News
