Monday, 25 May 2026
Drone strike halts operations at Iraqi oil field
IRBIL — A drone attack on Tuesday compelled a US firm to halt activities at an oil field in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, as a series of similar strikes continue to threaten the area’s energy sector, AFP reported.
The Kurdistan Ministry of Natural Resources confirmed that the Sarsang oil field in Duhok province was targeted, describing the attack as “an act of terrorism against the Kurdistan Region’s vital economic infrastructure.”
This incident came just a day after another drone strike in the neighboring Irbil province.
According to HKN Energy, the US company operating the site, the explosion occurred around 7:00 a.m. (0400 GMT) at one of its Sarsang field production facilities.
“Operations at the affected facility have been suspended until the site can be secured,” the company announced.
A fire broke out after the blast, but no injuries were reported.
Emergency teams managed to bring the blaze under control, HKN Energy later confirmed in an update.
The attack in Sarsang took place one day after three drones loaded with explosives targeted locations in Kurdistan. One was intercepted near Irbil airport, which hosts US troops, while two others struck the Khurmala oil field, causing property damage.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for these attacks.