Four Yemeni workers were killed in a drone attack on Friday that targeted the Khor Mor gas complex in Iraq’s Kurdish region, according to local authorities. The complex, owned by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) firm Dana Gas, sustained significant damage.
This marks the first deadly assault on the facility, though it has faced several non-lethal attacks in recent years.
“The attack will cause power shortages,” said Kurdistan regional government spokesperson Peshawa Hawramani. He condemned the incident as a “terrorist act” and urged Baghdad to find the perpetrators.
Ramak Ramadan, district chief of Chamchamal where the complex is located, confirmed a drone strike targeting a fuel storage tank around 6:45 pm local time. The attack disrupted gas supplies, causing a 2,500 megawatt (MW) power outage in the region.
Authorities are working to repair the damage and restore gas flow. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Threat to Stability
Kurdish leadership denounced the attack, emphasizing the threat it poses to regional stability. President Nechirvan Barzani urged the federal government to act, stating, “They must find the perpetrators and punish them.”
The gas field lies in an area administered by Kurdish authorities, between the cities of Kirkuk and Sulaimaniyah. Unclaimed Katyusha rocket attacks have targeted the complex in the past without causing significant damage. Kurdish officials have previously accused pro-Iranian groups of such attacks.
Kurdistan Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani called for a swift investigation and preventative measures to avoid future attacks.
