A series of explosive-laden drone attacks struck three oil fields in Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region early Wednesday, marking the latest in a surge of unclaimed assaults on energy infrastructure.
The strikes, which caused material damage but no casualties, follow a similar attack Tuesday that forced a U.S.-operated field to suspend production.
Kurdish counterterrorism forces reported that the first two drones hit the Norwegian-operated Peshkabir field in Zakho district between 6:00 and 6:15 a.m. local time (0300–0315 GMT). A third drone struck the nearby Tawke field, also run by Norway’s DNO, an hour later. Minutes afterward, a fourth attack targeted a Hunt Oil-operated site in Dohuk province but failed to inflict damage.
The assaults bring the total number of oil fields attacked in Kurdistan to five within a week. On Tuesday, U.S.-based HKN Energy halted operations at its Sarsang field after a drone strike, while Monday saw one drone intercepted near Erbil airport and two others damage the Khurmala field.
No group has claimed responsibility, but the attacks fit a pattern of escalating violence in Iraq, often tied to regional tensions involving Iran, the U.S., and Israel. The Kurdistan region, a relative haven for foreign investors due to its Western ties, now faces mounting instability as Baghdad and Erbil remain locked in a dispute over oil exports. A critical pipeline to Turkey has been idle since 2023 amid legal and technical quarrels, compounding economic pressures.
Analysts warn the drone campaign could further deter investment in Kurdistan’s energy sector, which has long been a pillar of its semi-autonomous economy. With regional hostilities simmering and internal Iraqi tensions unresolved, the attacks risk deepening the region’s security and economic challenges.