Drone strikes shut oilfields in Iraq's Kurdistan due to infrastructure damage
It was not certain who had carried out the attacks and no group has claimed responsibility for them.
Gulf Keystone Petroleum said it had shut production at Shaikan field, one of the largest oil discoveries in the Iraq's Kurdistan region, due to attacks in the field's vicinity.
'As a safety precaution, GKP has decided to temporarily shut-in production and has taken measures to protect staff. The company's assets have not been impacted,' the company said in a statement. Gulf Keystone has a production sharing contract with Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) with an 80 percent working interest in the license of Shaikan, located around 60 kilometers (37 miles) to the northwest of capital Irbil.
'A number of terrorist attacks were carried out by a bomb-dropping drone on the oil fields of Tawke, Peshkabour, and Ain Sifni in the independent administration of Zakho and the district of Shekhan in Duhok province,' KRG's ministry of natural resources said.
The attacks aimed to harm the economic infrastructure of the Kurdistan region and threaten the safety of civilian workers in the energy sector, the ministry said.
Norwegian oil and gas firm DNO, which operates the Tawke and Peshkabir oilfields in the Zakho area that borders Turkiye, said it temporarily suspended production at the fields following explosions that caused no injuries.
'The damage assessment is underway and the company expects to restart production once the assessment is completed,' DNO said. DNO's shares fell around 5 percent after the attack and were poised to see their worst day since June 25.
The fields were attacked by three bomb-laden drones, but there were no casualties, only material damage, Kurdistan's counter-terrorism service posted on Facebook.
The Ain Sifni oilfield, operated by US-based Hunt Oil, was also attacked later in the Dohuk region of northern Iraq.
There were no further details on the attack. On Tuesday, a drone attack halted production at the Sarsang oilfield in Iraq's Kurdistan region hours before its US operator signed a deal with Iraq to develop another field.
Iraqi Kurdistan security sources said initial investigations suggested the drone came from areas under the control of Iran-backed militias. On Monday, two drones fell on the Khurmala oilfield near Irbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, damaging water pipes at the field.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
3 days ago
- Arab News
Iraq defends border security pact with Iran despite US opposition
WASHINGTON: The Iraqi Embassy in Washington reiterated on Wednesday Baghdad's right to independently conclude agreements with any party asserting the country's full sovereignty despite US criticism. The embassy said Iraq 'has the right to enter into agreements in accordance with its constitution and national laws, in a manner consistent with its supreme interests,'according to Iraqi News Agency (INA). It emphasized that Iraq's decisions are rooted in its 'independent national will' and that the country 'is not subordinate to the policies of any other state.' The remarks come in the wake of a new security pact signed between Iraq and Iran in Baghdad earlier this week, aimed at tightening coordination along their shared border. However, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce commented on the memorandum, saying: 'We support genuine Iraqi sovereignty, not legislation that would turn Iraq into a client state of Iran.' The agreement, reached during the visit of Iranian top security official Ali Larijani, builds on a March 2023 deal to enhance security in Iraq's Kurdish region, which Tehran accuses of harboring armed opposition groups. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, who oversaw the signing, framed the pact as part of broader cooperation to secure both countries' frontiers and promote regional stability. Iraqi officials say the measures are intended to curb cross-border infiltration by Iranian Kurdish groups accused by Tehran of fomenting unrest. The timing of the agreement underscores the complex balancing act facing Baghdad. While deepening ties with Tehran, the Iraqi government is also under intensifying US pressure to rein in pro-Iran militias.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Arab News
Iraqi embassy in Washington reaffirms sovereignty amid new Iran border pact and US pressure
WASHINGTON: The Iraqi Embassy in Washington reiterated on Wednesday, Baghdad's right to independently conclude agreements and memoranda of understanding, asserting the country's full sovereignty in the face of growing regional and international scrutiny. According to the Iraqi News Agency, the embassy said Iraq 'has the right to enter into agreements in accordance with its constitution and national laws, in a manner consistent with its supreme interests.' It emphasized that Iraq's decisions are rooted in its 'independent national will' and that the country 'is not subordinate to the policies of any other state.' The remarks come in the wake of a new security pact signed between Iraq and Iran in Baghdad earlier this week, aimed at tightening coordination along their shared border. The agreement, reached during the visit of Iranian official Ali Larijani, builds on a March 2023 deal to enhance security in Iraq's Kurdish region, which Tehran accuses of harboring armed opposition groups. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, who oversaw the signing, framed the pact as part of broader cooperation to secure both countries' frontiers and promote regional stability. Iraqi officials say the measures are intended to curb cross-border infiltration by Iranian Kurdish groups accused by Tehran of fomenting unrest, and may include provisions for the extradition of opposition leaders. The timing of the agreement underscores the complex balancing act facing Baghdad. While deepening ties with Tehran, the Iraqi government is also under intensifying US pressure to rein in pro-Iran militias, dismantle advanced weapons systems in their possession, and return militia-held territories to state control.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Arab News
Jameel Motors brings Chery's Omoda & Jaecoo brands to Iraq
Jameel Motors, a leading provider of mobility solutions and partner of choice to top automotive brands, has been appointed as the official distributor of Omoda and Jaecoo, the automotive brands under the Chery Group umbrella, in Iraq. Jameel Motors won the distribution agreement through a competitive process involving both local and international companies. This marks a new market entry for Jameel Motors and Omoda and Jaecoo, where they will be tapping into Iraq's rapidly growing automotive sector, which accounts for 8–10 percent of all imports to the country. With strong demand for new energy vehicles driven by a young, tech-savvy urban population, this agreement supports Jameel Motors' inorganic growth and multi-brand expansion in the region, while enhancing personal mobility options for Iraqi drivers. Jameel Motors will initially distribute the Omoda C5 and C7, and the Jaecoo J5, J7, and J8 models, with sales to commence in Q4 2025. Omoda and Jaecoo is part of Chery Group — China's fourth-largest automaker and among the fastest-growing on the global stage. It has expanded to more than 40 markets, earning international recognition and a global customer base of over 500,000. Jasmmine Wong, chief executive, Jameel Motors, said: 'We are proud to be working with Chery Group to introduce Omoda and Jaecoo to Iraq, a dynamic and increasingly sophisticated automotive market. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to delivering advanced, sustainable, and design-forward mobility solutions that meet the evolving needs of drivers. Together with Chery Group, we look forward to shaping the future of personal transportation in Iraq.' Jameel Motors in Iraq will be headed by Kamal Sultan as the country manager. Sultan is a skilled automotive professional with more than 10 years of extensive experience in the Iraqi market. Having played a key role in the growth and network expansion of Toyota Iraq, as well as contributing to Nissan Iraq from its inception, he brings with him strong expertise in sales, after-sales service, and marketing strategies. He has also been instrumental in establishing Geely Iraq, Hongqi Iraq, Sixt Rental Car, and Iraq's first automotive service chain. His deep industry knowledge and strategic insight make him a valuable leader in Iraq's automotive sector. 'Launching Omoda and Jaecoo in Iraq marks an exciting new chapter for Jameel Motors,' Sultan said. 'With a young and connected population driving demand for premium and technologically advanced vehicles, Iraq presents significant opportunities. We are committed to building a strong local presence with Chery Group's customer-centric products, to serve this rapidly growing market.' With a focus on localized operations at its overseas production bases, Chery Group is committed to the sustainable advancement of regional automotive industries through local job creation and the export of intelligent manufacturing standards and management expertise. Jameel Motors represents some of the world's most recognized commercial and passenger vehicle brands and has operations in more than 10 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. This agreement marks another milestone as Jameel Motors continues to expand internationally and harness innovation for the future of mobility.
