Iraq’s Oil Ministry says Baiji refinery operations unaffected by drone incident

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Oil Ministry said Tuesday that operations at the Baiji refinery in Salah al-Din governorate remain uninterrupted following the fall of what it described as “foreign objects” inside and around the facility.

In a statement, the ministry confirmed that the refinery, officially known as the Al-Sumood refinery, sustained no damage and that production activities are ongoing. “The production activities of the Al-Sumood refinery in Baiji are ongoing, and there has been no halt to operations,” the statement read. The refinery, it says, “did not sustain any incident as a result of the fall of foreign objects in or around the facility.”

The ministry added that it is coordinating with security forces to ensure the safety of oil infrastructure. “The ministry commends their great efforts in creating a secure working environment,” it said.

The statement followed an incident early Tuesday in which more than 10 unidentified drones were spotted over the Baiji refinery complex. Baiji District Commissioner Adil Ahmed told 964media the drones appeared around 1 a.m.

“Security and military forces in the area responded with anti-aircraft weapons and engaged the drones,” Ahmed said. He added that the aircraft withdrew without causing any damage.

The source and intent of the drones remain unknown, and no group has claimed responsibility for the incident.

The drone activity came hours after a wave of attacks late Monday, including three missile strikes on Kirkuk International Airport and another that hit a house in Kirkuk’s Arouba neighborhood. No injuries were reported, and fires caused by the missile impacts were contained.

In a separate incident, a drone carrying explosives struck a school at the Bersiv camp for internally displaced people in Zakho’s Darkar subdistrict around 12:20 a.m. Tuesday, causing material damage but no casualties, according to local officials.