A Drone Strike Shuts Iraq's Khor Mor Gas Field and Cuts PowerA Drone Strike Shuts Iraq's Khor Mor Gas Field and Cuts Power

The attack late on Sunday hit a storage unit at the field in Sulaymaniyah province, starting a fire and forcing workers to move to shelters. Reuters reported that production was suspended after the strike hit an LPG storage tank.

The Kurdistan Regional Government's electricity ministry said the loss of gas supply had removed between 2,500 and 2,800 megawatts of electricity generation capacity. Al Jazeera reported that more than 70% of the region was left without power.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered a joint investigation with authorities in the Kurdistan region. Initial official assessments reported no casualties. No group had claimed responsibility by Monday morning.

One gas field, a wide power disruption

Khor Mor is one of the largest gas fields in the Kurdistan region. Its gas feeds power stations serving cities including Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Bazian, Chamchamal and Duhok.

The field is operated by UAE-based Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum. Its importance extends beyond electricity: the site also handles liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), commonly used for cooking and heating.

The loss of supply forced the regional electricity authorities to look for alternatives. Al Jazeera reported that officials planned to use hydroelectric stations and plants that can run on other fuels to keep essential services such as hospitals and water treatment facilities operating.

The 2,500–2,800MW figure is the range cited by the regional electricity ministry. It describes lost generation capacity, not a measured estimate of electricity consumption by households.

A repeated security problem

Khor Mor has been targeted before. The field has faced previous attacks and temporary production suspensions, including a shutdown in July over security concerns before operations resumed.

The latest strike comes after a period of heightened regional tension and again raises questions about the protection of energy facilities. A prolonged shutdown would affect gas supply to power stations and could complicate the region's efforts to restore normal electricity service.

The immediate extent of the damage remains unclear. Rudaw reported that investigators and field sources were still assessing the affected storage and loading facilities. The authorities have not announced a confirmed restart date.

Mwenendo has also reported on damage to an Aramco building in Riyadh, another reminder that energy infrastructure and the wider facilities around it face security risks during the regional confrontation.

The investigation and restart

The joint investigation ordered by Iraq's prime minister is expected to establish more about the projectile, the damage and the circumstances of the attack. The field's operator will also need to assess the affected equipment before production can resume.

For the Kurdistan region, the priority is restoring electricity while keeping critical services running. For energy companies, the attack is another reminder that security risks can quickly interrupt production even at established gas facilities.

Until the damage assessment and restart timetable are clear, the region faces uncertainty over both power supply and the availability of gas from one of its most important energy assets.