US envoy blames foreign-backed armed groups for Khor Mor drone strike

NEWSROOM — U.S. Special Envoy to Iraq Mark Savaya on Thursday condemned the drone strike on the Khor Mor gas field, accusing illegal armed groups “driven by hostile foreign agendas” of carrying out the attack and urging Iraqi authorities to respond decisively.

“Armed groups operating illegally and driven by hostile foreign agendas carried out an attack yesterday on the Khor Mor gas field,” Savaya said in a statement. “The Government of Iraq must identify those responsible for this assault and bring them to justice.”

Savaya said there is “no place for such armed groups in a fully sovereign Iraq,” adding, “The United States will fully support these efforts. Every illegal armed group and supporter will be tracked, confronted, and held accountable.”

The Khor Mor gas complex in Sulaymaniyah was struck late Wednesday, forcing a shutdown in gas supply and triggering widespread blackouts across the Kurdistan Region. The site has been repeatedly targeted in recent years by unclaimed drone and rocket attacks.

The envoy reaffirmed Washington’s support for the Kurdistan Region within a unified Iraq. “The United States supports a strong Kurdistan within a united and stable Iraq. We encourage Baghdad and Erbil to deepen their security cooperation and work closely to safeguard vital economic and energy infrastructure,” he said.

Savaya also reiterated U.S. backing for Iraq’s security institutions. “The United States reaffirms its steadfast commitment to assist the Government of Iraq in enhancing its defense capabilities and building its national forces,” he said. “Together, we will continue to protect Iraq’s resources, defend its sovereignty, and ensure the security and well-being of all its citizens.”

Khor Mor has come under repeated rocket and drone fire in recent years, with no group claiming responsibility. In April 2024, a drone strike on the facility killed four Yemeni workers and temporarily cut gas supplies, triggering widespread blackouts.

Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani condemned the latest strike and demanded action from both Baghdad and international partners to prevent repeat attacks. “I also urge our American and international partners to provide the defensive equipment necessary to protect our civilian infrastructure, and to support us in taking serious action to deter these attacks on our people and our progress,” he said.