Drone attack hits Iraq's Khor Mor gasfield, suspending production and cutting power

A drone attack on the Khor Mor gasfield in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region caused a fire at the facility and forced a suspension of gas production, according to Iraqi and Kurdish officials. The strike also cut electricity across much of the region, with officials saying more than 70 percent of the Kurdish region was left without power. Footage from the area showed smoke and flames rising near the gasfield in Sulaimaniyah governorate.

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Officials said the attack disrupted gas supply to power plants in Erbil, Sulaimaniyah, Bazian, Chamchamal and Duhok. Omid Ahmed, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Electricity, said the strike knocked between 2,500 and 2,800 megawatts of electricity generation off the grid. He said the ministry would try to keep power flowing to critical facilities, including hospitals and water treatment plants, by using hydroelectric stations and other plants that run on alternative fuel.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said there were no casualties in the initial assessment. He also ordered the formation of a joint investigative committee with relevant authorities in the Kurdish region to examine the circumstances of the attack. Security sources cited in reporting said an explosive-laden drone struck the Khor Mor gas storage facility, reducing the energy grid's capacity by 70 to 80 percent.

The immediate impact underlined how dependent the region's electricity system is on gas supplies from a small number of major facilities. The attack comes at a sensitive time for Iraq's energy sector, where gas infrastructure is closely tied to power generation and public services. Any prolonged disruption can quickly affect households, hospitals and water systems, especially in a region already facing pressure on electricity supply.

The incident also adds to wider regional tensions, with officials saying it was not yet clear who was responsible or whether it was linked to broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Khor Mor is one of the most important gas facilities in the Kurdish region and has been targeted before. Officials said a drone strike hit the same site last year, although no group claimed responsibility for that attack either.

The repeated targeting of the facility raises questions about the security of energy infrastructure in northern Iraq and the resilience of the regional power network. It also highlights the political and economic importance of the gasfield for the Kurdish administration and the wider Iraqi electricity system. What remains unclear is who carried out the strike and whether production can be restored quickly.

Officials have not given a timeline for repairs or for the return of full electricity supply. The joint investigation is expected to focus on the method of attack, the damage to the facility and the wider security implications for energy infrastructure in the region.

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