KRG Seeks U.S. Partnerships for Anti-Drone Technology Amid Escalating Attacks on Oil Infrastructure

Peregraf

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is prioritizing partnerships with American companies to acquire anti-drone technology, following a surge in drone strikes that have repeatedly targeted the region’s oil facilities.

Interior Minister Reber Ahmed told a U.S.-Kurdistan Region investment conference in Erbil on Monday that hostile actors in Iraq are increasingly using drones to attack infrastructure and civilians. He said such instability poses risks that extend beyond Iraq’s borders.

"This is why we see such great value in working with American companies to strengthen our security infrastructure, anti-drone technology, modern security systems, and capacity-building programs," Ahmed said. He added that these partnerships would not only safeguard Kurdistan but also protect international companies, their people, and their investments.

The call comes two months after dozens of drone strikes, widely blamed on Iran-aligned militias, hit oilfields in Erbil and Duhok. Since June 30, more than ten drone-related incidents have been reported across the region, including Erbil, Duhok, Sulaymaniyah, and Zakho. The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Natural Resources has reported significant financial damage, with several oilfields forced to suspend operations.

A Peregraf investigation found that five of the Kurdistan Region’s eight active oil contract areas, covering nine oilfields, have been targeted. The recent attacks have reduced crude production by an estimated 140,000 to 150,000 barrels per day.

Drone and rocket strikes on Kurdish oil facilities have become more frequent since 2022, part of what many analysts view as efforts by pro-Iran militias to pressure the KRG and its international partners. While Baghdad has condemned such incidents, critics say militias operating with Iranian support have faced little accountability.

The drone campaign has deepened existing tensions between Erbil and Baghdad, already strained by disputes over oil exports, budget allocations, and public sector salaries. Crude exports through Turkey’s Ceyhan pipeline remain suspended since March 2023 due to a legal dispute between Baghdad and Ankara. That standoff has tied into wider negotiations over revenue sharing, non-oil income, and salary payments for more than 1.2 million KRG employees, many of whom have gone months without wages.