Kurdistan Region presidency condemns drone attacks, urges federal response

ERBIL — The Kurdistan Region’s presidency on Tuesday condemned a string of drone strikes on key infrastructure and oil facilities in Erbil and Duhok, calling on Iraq’s federal government to take urgent steps to prevent future attacks and hold perpetrators accountable.

“We strongly condemn the drone strikes on infrastructure and various locations within the Kurdistan Region, including the assaults on oil fields in Khurmala and Sarsang that occurred yesterday and today,” the presidency said in a statement.

“The Iraqi Federal Government must implement all essential and prompt actions to avert these attacks, identify and penalize those responsible,” it continued. “Such attacks pose a risk to the country’s stability, sovereignty, and both domestic and international investments.”

The statement followed back-to-back aerial strikes on oil facilities in the Kurdistan Region this week. Two drones struck the Khurmala oil field near Erbil on Monday night, damaging water infrastructure, while a separate attack hit the Sarsang oil field in Duhok early Tuesday, igniting a fire and suspending operations.

HKN Energy Ltd., which operates Sarsang, confirmed both the explosion and the production halt, but said no injuries were reported.

The U.S. Consulate General in Erbil also denounced the attacks, describing them as a threat to national sovereignty and Iraq’s investment climate. “These attacks are unacceptable, undermine Iraq’s sovereignty, and hurt Iraq’s efforts to attract foreign investment,” the consulate said, urging Baghdad to investigate and prosecute those responsible.

Earlier Tuesday, HKN Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with Iraq’s Oil Ministry to jointly develop the Hamrin oil field in Salah al-Din governorate.

No group has claimed responsibility for the recent drone incidents.