Iraq's three presidencies condemn ‘drone attacks' on Kurdistan oil fields
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi presidency, premiership and parliament on Tuesday strongly condemned the recent 'drone attacks' on oil fields in the Kurdistan Region, calling them a flagrant assault on national security and stability.
In a statement, the Iraqi Presidency vehemently denounced the 'terrorist attacks' on the Sarsang oil field in northern Duhok early Tuesday and the Khurmala oil field southwest of Erbil late Monday.
It warned that such attacks threaten the country's 'economy and the security and safety of its citizens,' describing them as 'equivalent to targeting the state's public interests.' The presidency urged "the relevant security authorities' in Baghdad and Erbil 'to take appropriate and urgent measures to identify the perpetrators and prevent the recurrence of such terrorist attacks."
Echoing the presidency's stance, Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, said on Tuesday that the assaults were carried out using drones, branding them 'criminal acts' and a 'direct threat to national interests.'
He added that the Iraqi premier had 'ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation' into the incidents, which reflect a "malicious intent aimed at creating confusion." Baghdad pledged decisive action against the perpetrators and stressed the need to protect vital infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Parliament's Second Deputy Speaker Shakhawan Abdullah condemned the 'deliberate operations' targeting oil and critical infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region.
He confirmed that 'these attacks caused material and economic damages' and called on the federal government to "maintain security and identify the parties responsible." He further tasked the parliament's Security and Defense Committee with investigating the "repeated targeting incidents and breaches that are threatening the security of the [Kurdistan] Region.'
Earlier on Tuesday, an explosion hit the Sarsang oil field in the Kurdistan Region's northern Duhok province, operated by the US-based HKN Energy, which holds a 62 percent stake in the field.
In a statement posted to its official Facebook page, HKN Energy confirmed that 'an explosion occurred' around 7:00 am local time. 'All personnel have been safely accounted for, and no injuries have been reported,' the company said, adding that 'operations at the affected facility have been suspended until the site is secured and a full evaluation is completed.'
Just a day earlier, two explosive-laden drones targeted the Khurmala oil field, southwest of Erbil, late Monday night. According to a security source speaking to Rudaw, the drones were intercepted by US-led coalition forces. No casualties were reported in that incident either.
The Kurdistan Region Presidency on Tuesday strongly condemned 'the drone strikes on infrastructure and various locations within the Kurdistan Region,' urging the federal government in Baghdad to take urgent measures to prevent further attacks and bring those responsible to justice.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) natural resources ministry also denounced the incidents as 'terrorist attacks' against the Region's economic infrastructure.
Drone strikes in the Kurdistan Region have increased since the outbreak of a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran that began on June 13 and ended with a US-brokered ceasefire.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the latest attacks, the Kurdistan Region's interior ministry has accused the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) of involvement - a charge dismissed by Baghdad as 'unacceptable.'
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