DUHOK,—A drone strike struck the Sarsang oil field in Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region on Tuesday, prompting U.S.-based HKN Energy to temporarily suspend operations, officials and company sources said.
The de facto Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) confirmed that one of the oil production sites in Duhok province was hit by an explosive drone at approximately 0700 local time.
The KRG condemned the incident, describing it as an act of “terrorism” against infrastructure critical to the Kurdish economy.
According to a statement by HKN Energy, the strike triggered a fire at the impacted facility, though there were no reported casualties.
Firefighters successfully contained the blaze, the company said. Operations at the site have been halted pending safety assessments and a security review.
The incident follows a series of similar drone and rocket attacks across the region in recent weeks, most of which have gone unclaimed. On Monday, drones targeted Erbil International Airport—where U.S. military personnel are stationed—and the Khurmala oil field in Erbil province, causing property damage but no injuries.
Kurdish security sources said initial investigations indicated the drones may have originated from territories controlled by Iran-backed Shiite groups.
On July 3, a drone was intercepted near Erbil airport, and local officials attributed the launch to elements affiliated with Hashed al-Shaabi, a group of pro-Iran paramilitary units integrated into Iraq’s official security forces.
The federal government in Baghdad dismissed the accusations.
The U.S. embassy in Baghdad condemned the recent uptick in drone activity, calling for Iraqi authorities to act decisively.
“These drone strikes targeting vital sites, including those with foreign investment, are unacceptable,” the embassy posted on X. It urged Baghdad to exercise control over armed groups operating within its borders.
The drone strike comes amid a standoff between Iraq’s central government and the Kurdish region over energy policy.
A pipeline used to export crude via Turkey has been closed since 2023 due to legal and technical disputes. In May, Baghdad filed a legal challenge against the KRG for independently signing contracts with two U.S. energy firms, one of them being HKN Energy.
Regional analysts say the pattern of attacks may be linked to Iran’s efforts to retaliate against Kurdish authorities, whom Tehran accuses of supporting Israeli operations against Iran in June.
Analysts believe the drone strikes may serve as a warning to deter Kurdish cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies.
No group has claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack on the Sarsang site.
(With files from AFP | Reuters | Agencies)
Copyright © 2025 iKurd.net. All rights reserved
Related posts:
Iraq – The Cynical Swindle
Iraqi Kurdistan – “Sold Out!” – Part II
The Resurrection (Ba’ath) Party – Before the Iran-Iraq War
Business with ISIS – Updated
Saddam Hussein’s Enemies: Paving the Road to the Invasion of Iraq
Iraq: Revenge and Corruption
The Suffocation of Iraq Kurdistan
Saddam Hussein was a Friend to the West
Iraqi Kurdistan – “Sold Out!” – Part III
The Truth About The Saddam Hussein Affair
