Drone Attack on Iraq's Khor Mor Gasfield Cuts Power Across Kurdish Region

OPA WIRE, Nov 9 (OPA) — A drone strike targeted the Khor Mor gas facility in Iraq's Sulaimaniyah governorate on Sunday night, triggering a fire and disrupting regional energy infrastructure. Al Jazeera's fact-checking agency Sanad verified footage showing smoke and flames rising from the installation. The attack knocked between 2,500 and 2,800 megawatts of electricity generation offline, reducing the grid's capacity by 70 to 80 percent.

Omid Ahmed, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Electricity, stated that the suspension directly impacted power plants across Erbil, Sulaimaniyah, Bazian, Chamchamal, and Duhok. The ministry activated alternative fuel sources and hydroelectric stations to maintain power for essential infrastructure, including hospitals and water treatment facilities. Security sources confirmed that an explosive-laden drone hit the gas storage facility.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced that initial assessments indicated no casualties resulted from the strike. Al-Zaidi ordered the formation of a joint investigative committee alongside regional authorities to determine responsibility and examine the circumstances of the breach. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault on the critical energy hub.

The incident occurs against a backdrop of escalating regional friction. A similar drone strike hit the Khor Mor facility last year, also leaving authorities without a formal claim of responsibility. Officials continue to evaluate the structural damage as repair crews await security clearances to access the site.