PUK President Bafel Talabani Condemns Khor Mor Attack, Vows 'Decisive and Unwavering' Response

Peregraf – Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) President Bafel Talabani strongly condemned the attack on the Khor Mor gas field, calling it a “terrorist” act aimed at harming the livelihood of citizens in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, and destabilizing the country.

“The terrorist attack on the Khor Mor field is unacceptable and we condemn it in the strongest terms. Its aim is to hurt the livelihood of our fellow citizens in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq and undermine the stability of our country,” Talabani said.

Talabani underscored that “our response to this attack will be decisive and unwavering,” stressing that all necessary measures will be taken to safeguard the lives of citizens and protect vital infrastructure.

He also issued a strong call for dealing with armed groups operating outside state control: “Arms must only be in the hands of the state. The militias which operate outside of the rule of law must either be disbanded or destroyed.”

The statement follows the late‑night attack on Wednesday that struck the Khor Mor gas field in the Chamchamal district of Sulaymaniyah Governorate. The strike ignited a fire in one of the main tanks and forced gas exports to be halted at 11:30 p.m., leading to electricity disruptions across parts of the Kurdistan Region. No casualties were reported.

Khor Mor, operated by Dana Gas, is the largest gas field in the Kurdistan Region and has faced repeated drone and missile attacks over the past two years, including a deadly strike in April 2024 that killed four Yemeni workers.