A targeted drone strike against the Khor Mor gasfield, situated in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, has triggered a severe fire at the facility and knocked out power supplies across the entire area, according to statements from Iraqi and Kurdish officials. The Sunday night assault plunged more than 70 percent of the Kurdish region into darkness, intensifying concerns over the vulnerability of critical regional infrastructure.
Key Takeaways: A Sunday night drone attack on the Khor Mor gasfield caused a major fire, stripping 2,500 to 2,800 megawatts from the grid and leaving over 70% of the Kurdish region without electricity. No group has claimed responsibility, and the Iraqi regime-led administration has announced a joint investigative committee.
The ultimate responsibility for the attack remains unclear amid persistent speculation regarding its potential links to the broader regional conflict involving the US regime and Israel against Iran. Al Jazeera’s fact-checking agency, Sanad, verified circulating footage showing thick plumes of smoke and towering flames rising from the vicinity of the gasfield located within the Sulaimaniyah governorate. Security sources speaking to media representatives confirmed that an explosive-laden drone struck the Khor Mor gas storage facility directly, severely degrading the energy grid's operational capacity.
Omid Ahmed, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Electricity, reported to the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the strike immediately halted gas supplies to critical power plants spanning the cities of Erbil, Sulaimaniyah, Bazian, Chamchamal, and Duhok. He elaborated that the sabotage knocked between 2,500 and 2,800 megawatts of electricity generation offline. Despite the widespread blackout, Ahmed added that the ministry is attempting to route emergency electricity to essential infrastructure, including hospitals and water treatment plants, by relying on hydroelectric stations and alternative fuel reserves.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi stated during an initial assessment briefing that no casualties had been reported as a direct result of the strike, INA reported. In response to the security breach, Al-Zaidi directed the formation of a joint investigative committee in cooperation with relevant authorities in the Kurdish region to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the incident. This sabotage occurs against a backdrop of elevated regional tensions, echoing a remarkably similar drone attack that struck the exact same facility last year, for which no faction ever claimed responsibility.
Source: www.aljazeera.com