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Rudaw Net
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraqi parliament to convene on Kurdistan Region drone attacks
Also in Iraq Iraq cannot control militias attacking Kurdistan Region, says MP Iraq records 16 new cases of Crimean-Congo fever Iraq arrests 40 over alleged baathist plots, sectarian incitement PM Barzani says Baghdad added new condition to finance agreement A+ A- 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.
Rudaw Net
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Drones targeting Kurdistan Region were launched from Kirkuk: KRG official
Also in Kurdistan Unfinished Stories: PKK disarmament PM Barzani, US chargé d'affaires discuss finances, oil exports Drone attack kills one in Penjwen PUK pushes for new KRG cabinet before Iraq's November vote A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Explosive-laden drones that targeted the Kurdistan Region last week were launched from Kirkuk province, a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) official said on Saturday. 'The suicide drones that targeted oil fields in the Kurdistan Region last week flew from Dibis, Kirkuk,' Aziz Ahmad, deputy chief of staff to Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, said in a post on X. In the month of July, there have been at least 18 drone attacks on locations in the Kurdistan Region. In the past week, the attacks primarily targeted oil fields. Ahmad said on Wednesday that the Kurdistan Region has lost nearly 200,000 barrels of oil production due to the 'spate of drone attacks by criminal militias on the Iraqi government payroll.' The KRG has blamed the attacks on Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a charge Baghdad has denied. On Monday, the Iraqi parliament will convene to discuss the 'terrorist attacks with explosive drones on infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region,' according to the agenda. 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. 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.
Rudaw Net
19-07-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
US encourages Iraq to end tensions with Kurdistan Region
WASHINGTON DC - The United States said on Saturday that the resolution of Erbil-Baghdad tensions over oil exports and finances would signal that the Iraqi government is committed to creating a suitable environment for companies to invest in the country. 'We have consistently encouraged Baghdad and Erbil to resolve their issues regarding salaries and the reopening of the ITP,' a State Department official told Rudaw in response to an email, referring to the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline. 'Addressing these issues quickly would signal that Iraq puts the interests of its people first and is committed to creating an environment in which companies will want to invest. Establishing that business-friendly environment requires respecting contract sanctity and providing necessary security guarantees,' added the official. Iraq's Council of Ministers on Thursday approved a new financial agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), paving the way for the resumption of salary payments to the Region's public employees and the restart of Kurdish oil exports, which have been suspended for more than two years. The Iraqi government said the agreement stipulates that the KRG is obliged to export all of the oil produced from its fields - estimated at 230,000 barrels per day - through Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO). The KRG will retain 50,000 barrels per day for local consumption, covering production costs, while the federal Ministry of Oil may provide refined oil products equivalent to 15,000 barrels per day if needed. Erbil will also hand over non-oil revenues. In return, Baghdad will pay the Kurdish government's share from the federal budget. The KRG, which approved the deal with the federal government ahead of its announcement by Baghdad, has not confirmed its contents. Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said he welcomed their 'understanding' and expected Baghdad to resume the disbursement of the salaries of his government's civil servants who have only been paid for four months this year. With the announcement of their agreement, drone attacks on locations in the Kurdistan Region have stopped. In the month of July, there were at least 18 drone attacks. Oil fields operated by international companies have been a primary target. The last incident occurred on Thursday when two explosive-laden drones crashed in the outskirts of Erbil, according to the Erbil-based Directorate General of Counter Terrorism (CTD). Another drone attack was repelled on the same day in the Shekhan district of Duhok province, home to oil fields operated by international companies, a security source told Rudaw at the time. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has blamed the attacks on Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a charge Baghdad has denied. Aziz Ahmad, deputy chief of staff to Prime Minister Barzani, said in a statement on Wednesday that the Region has lost nearly 200,000 barrels of oil production due to the 'spate of drone attacks by criminal militias on the Iraqi government payroll.' The attacks have been widely condemned, including by the UN, US and UK. 'Demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding and supporting international investment is especially important in the current environment where drone attacks have targeted U.S. and other international companies' operations in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region without consequence,' the State Department official noted in the email to Rudaw.
Rudaw Net
18-07-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
UK condemns drone attacks in Kurdistan Region
Also in Iraq Iraq launches probe into Wasit mall fire that killed 63 Iraq holds nationwide mourning after mall blaze kills 61 At least 50 killed, dozens missing in Iraq shopping mall fire Iraqi PM inaugurates Mosul airport on anniversary of city's liberation from ISIS A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The British Embassy in Baghdad on Friday condemned a recent wave of drone attacks in the Kurdistan Region, including strikes that targeted key energy infrastructure, as tensions between Erbil and Baghdad appear to ease following a new financial agreement. 'The UK condemns the recent drone attacks across Iraq, including those this week targeting energy infrastructure in the KRI [Kurdistan Region of Iraq],' the British Embassy said in a statement. 'These attacks threaten civilians' safety, damage Iraq's economy and undermine Iraq's stability.' The embassy urged the Iraqi government to prevent further attacks and hold those responsible to account. In the month of July, there have been at least 19 drone attacks on locations in the Kurdistan Region. Most recently, on Thursday, two explosive-laden drones crashed in Erbil's outskirts, according to the Erbil-based Directorate General of Counter Terrorism (CTD). On Wednesday, the CTD reported drone strikes on two oil fields in northern Duhok province. One hit Norwegian energy company DNO's Tawke oil field, prompting the company to temporarily suspend operations. Gulf Keystone Petroleum, which operates the Shekhan field in southern Duhok, also halted operations as a precautionary measure. A day earlier, a drone targeted the Sarsang oil field northwest of Duhok city, operated by US-based HKN Energy. The company suspended activity pending a security review and full damage assessment. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has blamed the attacks on Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a charge Baghdad has denied. Aziz Ahmad, deputy chief of staff to Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, said in a statement on Wednesday that the Region has lost nearly 200,000 barrels of oil production due to the 'spate of drone attacks by criminal militias on the Iraqi government payroll.' The Kurdistan Region's Presidency, Council of Ministers, and Ministry of Natural Resources 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. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Rudaw Net
17-07-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Bomb-laden drones crash near Erbil following wave of attacks on energy sites
Also in Kurdistan Oil companies condemn attacks on Kurdistan Region fields Drone targets Duhok oil field operated by US firm Top Foxtrot member arrested in Erbil: Swedish media KRG approves 'understanding' with Baghdad on budget issues A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two bomb-laden drones crashed in northern and southwestern Erbil on Thursday morning, causing no casualties or material damage, according to the Kurdistan Region's counterterrorism forces. In a statement posted to Facebook, the Erbil-based Directorate General of Counter Terrorism (CTD), also known as Kurdistan CT, reported that 'at 10:50 am [local time], a bomb-laden drone crashed' near the village of Surezha in Shamamk subdistrict southwest of Erbil. The statement confirmed that 'no human casualties or material damage' were caused. The CTD reported a similar incident earlier the same day in Erbil's northern Bahrka subdistrict near Jizhnikani village. These incidents follow a string of drone strikes that have targeted key oil and energy infrastructure across the Kurdistan Region since Monday. On Wednesday, the CTD reported drone attacks on two different oil fields in the northern Duhok province on Wednesday. 'Between 6:00 and 6:15 am, the DNO oil field in targeted by two explosive-laden drones," the Kurdish counterterrorism forces said, adding that 'a third drone targeted the DNO oil field in Tawke at 7:00 am,' causing material damage but no injuries. Norwegian energy company DNO confirmed in a statement that operations at both fields have been 'temporarily suspended' due to the attacks. Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP), which operates the Sheikhan oil field in southern Duhok, also announced it had temporarily shut down operations on Wednesday as a precautionary measure. A day earlier, a drone attack targeted the Sarsang oil field northwest of Duhok city, operated by the US-based HKN Energy, also prompting a suspension of operations at the facility 'until it is secured and a full evaluation is completed.' In a Wednesday statement on X, Aziz Ahmad, Deputy Chief of Staff to Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, said the Region has lost nearly 200,000 barrels of oil production due to a 'spate of drone attacks by criminal militias on the Iraqi government payroll.' He added that five oil fields, including two operated by US companies, have been targeted so far. The Kurdistan Region's Presidency, cabinet and natural resources ministry strongly condemned the drone attacks, describing them as attempts to cripple the Region's vital oil infrastructure. They called on Iraq's federal government in Baghdad to take urgent action to prevent further attacks and hold those responsible accountable. Responding to a question from Rudaw during a Wednesday press briefing, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce censured 'these kinds of attacks' as 'unacceptable, adding, 'We've expressed our dismay and our problem with them.' Iraq's presidency, premiership, and parliament also condemned the attacks on Tuesday. Drone strikes in the Kurdistan Region have increased since the outbreak of a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran that began on June 13 and ended with a US-brokered ceasefire. While no group has claimed responsibility for the latest attacks, the Kurdistan Region's interior ministry in early July accused the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) of involvement - a charge dismissed by Baghdad as 'unacceptable.'
