Morning Raids Disrupt Production
On Wednesday at six in the morning local time, two explosive drones struck the Peshkabir oil site run by DNO ASA, a firm based in Norway. An hour later another drone hit the Tawke field owned by the same company. Then a final drone damaged a facility operated by Hunt Oil from the United States in Dohuk province.
Kurdish security forces reported damage to tanks and processing gear but no injuries to workers. The strikes forced both foreign firms to pause output while engineers check equipment and safety systems. Consequently local oil flow slowed and crude shipments dropped sharply.
Escalation of Weeklong Campaign
This latest incident brings to five the number of fields struck in a single week in the autonomous region. On Monday two drones damaged the Khurmala field and one more was shot down near Erbil airport where US troops are stationed. Production losses are estimated at up to 150 000 barrels each day as many pipelines and processing plants remain offline.
Kurdish officials describe the pattern as a deliberate move to starve the regional government of key revenue. Local counterterror services call the raids acts of terrorism meant to unsettle the job security of civilians and halt income for public services.
Political Tensions Over Oil Revenues
Deep disagreements between Baghdad and Erbil lie at the root of the crisis. Since late 2023 a main export pipeline to Turkey has stayed closed due to court battles. That shutdown forced Kurdish producers to sell oil by truck at steep discounts, shrinking their share of national revenue.
Baghdad insists on strict rules for budget allocations while the Kurdistan Regional Government demands a larger cut to cover local needs. No group has yet claimed the drone campaign. Kurdish leaders blame Iran backed paramilitary forces, an accusation Baghdad denies for lack of proof.
International Response
The US embassy in Baghdad has condemned attacks on energy sites as wrong acts that must stop at once. It urged Iraqi officials to secure oil fields and hold attackers to account. Iraq’s prime minister, Mohammed Shia al‑Sudani, ordered a fast probe and warned that the raids show clear intent to harm both the economy and public safety. Meanwhile, oil analysts warn that ongoing turmoil could nudge global crude prices upward if attacks spread to other fields in the zone.
Personal Analysis
I believe this campaign marks more than random violence. The timing suggests a strategic push to force concessions in the revenue fight. Furthermore, the choice of targets shows careful planning to hit foreign investors and alarm global markets. Local leaders face a tough decision. They must both defend vital sites and keep the budget talks alive to find fair terms with Baghdad.
If they fail, production may suffer further and the region could lose much‑needed income. At the same time, Iraq’s central government risks undermining stability if it blocks Kurdish funds. The coming weeks will test whether both sides can move past a long‑running dispute or let violence turn routine.
Sources: Dawn
