Peregraf
The General Directorate of Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG) has confirmed a suicide drone attack on the Khor Mor gas field in Chamchamal at 7:05 p.m. today. The PUK’s CTG issued a statement revealing that intelligence suggested the drone was directed from the Bashir area and carried out by militia and lawless groups.
The CTG emphasized the involvement of these groups, pointing to the escalating security challenges posed by such entities. Despite the severity of the attack, there were no casualties, and both the Khor Mor gas field and Dana Gas, the company operating the field, remain fully protected.
In response to the incident, the CTG reassured the public that security agencies are closely monitoring the situation and will take all necessary steps to address the violation. “Any new information regarding this attack and further developments will be shared with the public,” the statement concluded.
The involvement of militia and lawless groups in attacks on critical infrastructure continues to raise concerns about the security of energy resources in the Kurdistan Region. Such incidents pose a significant threat to regional and national stability.
A source speaking to Peregraf confirmed that the drone attack produced a loud explosion at the field, although no damage was reported. Ramk Ramazan, the governor of Chamchamal, told Peregraf that the explosion occurred at the condensate tanks, but no injuries were reported. The investigation is ongoing.
The KRG Ministry of Natural Resources also confirmed the attack, stating in a press release: “A drone attack targeted the Khor Mor gas field at 7:05 p.m. today, causing no damage to the field or Dana Gas Company. Gas production remains normal, and gas pressure to power plants is unaffected. The damage is being assessed.”
Dana Gas, based in the UAE, operates the Khor Mor field, which has been the target of several attacks in the past two years. One of the deadliest incidents took place on April 26, 2024, when two drones struck the site, killing four Yemeni workers.
As the largest natural gas producer in the Kurdistan Region, Khor Mor supplies power plants in Erbil, Chamchamal, and Bazian, providing most of the gas used for heating and cooking in the region. Iraq has increasingly relied on Khor Mor to reduce its dependence on Iranian gas, especially with U.S. sanctions complicating energy imports from Iran.
Meanwhile, Turkey has expressed interest in the field, a topic discussed in Ankara in 2023 during a meeting between Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. To facilitate gas exports to Turkey, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has initiated a gas pipeline project from Khor Mor to Turkey. However, this move has sparked strong opposition from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which has raised concerns about the economic and political implications of the project.
Though no group has claimed responsibility for the latest attack, the repeated targeting of Khor Mor continues to raise concerns about the security of the region’s energy infrastructure and its implications for Iraq’s gas independence and regional energy politics.