Several oilfields in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region remained offline as of Friday following four consecutive days of drone strikes targeting key energy infrastructure.
Beginning on Monday, drones struck multiple fields across the region, including Khurmala, Sarsang, Hamrin, Peshkabir, Tawke, Ain Sifni, Shaikan, and Baadre. Some fields were targeted multiple times, leading to significant damage to oil infrastructure, storage facilities, and gas pipelines. The attacks sparked fires and caused gas leaks at several sites.
In addition, a drone was intercepted near Erbil International Airport on Monday. The facility hosts a major U.S. military presence, raising further security concerns in the area.
Some of the impacted oilfields are operated by U.S. and other Western-based energy companies. As a result of the strikes, the Kurdistan region’s daily oil production has plummeted from 285,000 barrels per day (bpd) to between 40,000 and 150,000 bpd by the end of the week.
As of Friday, no group had claimed responsibility for the attacks. Kurdish regional authorities have accused elements of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)—government-aligned paramilitary units with factions reportedly backed by Iran. Officials allege the drones originated from territory under PMF control. However, the regular Iraqi Army has dismissed these claims.
In response, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has ordered a formal investigation and launched a security operation in the Khazar desert, which spans the Nineveh and Salah al-Din governorates. No arrests have been reported so far.
The strikes come amid a longstanding dispute between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over sovereignty, oil revenues, and budgetary authority. Despite recent tensions, an agreement was reached on Thursday between the two governments allowing the KRG to resume oil exports through Iraq’s State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO). Plans are also underway to restart exports via the Iraq-Turkey Oil Pipeline, which has been offline since 2023.