Rocket Attack on Khor Mor Gas Field Plunges Iraqi Kurdistan into Darkness

A significant rocket strike targeted the vast Khor Mor gas field in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region on Wednesday, forcing a complete halt in production and immediately triggering widespread power outages across the northern territory.

The attack, which hit a liquid storage tank at the crucial facility, prompted joint operator Dana Gas to confirm the stoppage of its operations. Although no casualties were reported among personnel, the abrupt cessation of gas supplies—which are essential for regional power generation—led to an expected drop of 3,000 megawatts in electricity generation, plunging numerous neighborhoods into blackouts.

Crucially for global markets, the operators confirmed the strike did not impact oil production or exports from the region.

While no group immediately claimed responsibility, local officials quickly linked the attack to a pattern of recurring assaults often attributed to Iran-backed militias operating against U.S. interests in the area. The region hosts substantial energy investments from American firms, making critical infrastructure a frequent target.

In a sharp public rebuke, Aziz Ahmad, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, took to social media to criticize the lack of defensive capabilities. “How many attacks must happen before the U.S. government simply allows the KRG to purchase kinetic anti-drone equipment for us to defend our skies and critical infrastructure?” he wrote, highlighting the vulnerability of key sites like Khor Mor, which has faced multiple unclaimed rocket and drone strikes in recent years.

The attack drew unified condemnation from the highest levels of the Iraqi government. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Kurdish Prime Minister Barzani spoke by phone, agreeing to form a joint investigative committee to identify and prosecute those responsible for what they called an “attack on all of Iraq.”