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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi parliament is set to meet in an extraordinary session on Monday to discuss the recent drone attacks targeting critical oil infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region.
Dozens of drone strikes have targeted the Kurdistan Region since the beginning of July, primarily striking oil fields. The attacks have incurred heavy financial losses on the Region and Kurdish officials have held Iraqi government-affiliated 'criminal militias' responsible.
The official agenda published by the Iraqi parliament's media office said that a 'general discussion regarding terrorist attacks on infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region' will be part of the special session.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has blamed the attacks on Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a charge Baghdad has denied.
The Kurdistan Region's Presidency, Council of Ministers, and Ministry of Natural Resources have all strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as attempts to cripple the Region's vital oil infrastructure. They called on the federal government to hold the perpetrators to account.
Aziz Ahmad, deputy chief of staff to Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, said on Saturday that the explosive-laden drones that targeted oil fields were launched from Kirkuk province.
No group has claimed responsibility.
There have been no new attacks since Erbil and Baghdad reached a new agreement on finances and oil exports on Thursday.
The session will also discuss the 'Kut fire incident,' according to the agenda.
A massive fire at a newly opened shopping mall in Wasit's provincial capital of Kut late Wednesday killed at least 77 people and sparked outrage from the Iraqi public over lax safety standards. Most deaths were caused by smoke inhalation, with no emergency exits in place for victims to use.
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