Drone attacks hit three oil sites in Duhok in latest strikes on Kurdistan Region energy sector

DUHOK — Explosive drones struck three oil sites in Duhok governorate early Wednesday, marking the latest in a series of aerial attacks on the Kurdistan Region’s energy infrastructure. No casualties were reported, though authorities and companies confirmed material damage.

According to the Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Directorate, two drones targeted the DNO oil field in Peshkhabour between 6:00 and 6:15 a.m., followed by a third strike on the DNO-operated Tawke field at 7:00 a.m., both within the Zakho autonomous administration. At 7:14 a.m., a separate drone struck the HKN Energy field in Baadre, in Sheikhan district.

In its statement, the directorate confirmed all three incidents but did not specify damage details.

DNO ASA, the Norwegian operator of the targeted fields, said from Oslo that it had temporarily suspended operations at the Tawke license following three explosions — one affecting a small storage tank at Tawke and another damaging surface processing equipment at Peshkabir. The company reported no injuries and said assessments are ongoing. It added that production would resume once evaluations are complete.

The Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Natural Resources also confirmed the strikes in a statement, citing damage at the Tawke and Ain Sifni oil fields. The ministry condemned the attacks as “cowardly acts of terrorism” and said they threatened both Kurdistan’s economy and the safety of its oil-sector workers.

“These attacks deliberately target the economic lifelines of the Kurdistan Region,” the ministry said. It called on the federal government and international partners to take “immediate and decisive action” to protect critical infrastructure and ensure accountability.

Wednesday’s strikes follow drone attacks earlier this week at two other oil sites. On Monday night, drones hit the Khurmala field near Erbil, damaging water infrastructure. Early Tuesday, another strike hit the Sarsang field in Duhok, igniting a fire and forcing HKN Energy to suspend operations there.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Tuesday ordered an “immediate and comprehensive investigation” into the recent attacks, describing them as a “direct threat to the interests of the Iraqi people” and an attempt to destabilize Iraq’s development efforts. It followed a statement by Kurdistan Region’s presidency urging swift federal action and warning of risks to both national sovereignty and investor confidence along with condemnation from the U.S. consulate in Erbil.

The investigation was announced after days of drone attacks on Kurdistan Region oil infrastructure and mounting condemnation from both the Kurdistan Region presidency and the U.S. Consulate in Erbil, which warned the strikes threatened national sovereignty and investor confidence.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.