Latest news with #Kirkuk
Zawya
16-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
19,000 barrels at heart of Iraq-Kurd oil export rift
Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have failed to reach agreement on the resumption of oil exports through Turkey because of a rift over 19,000 barrels per day (bpd), Iraq's oil minister has revealed. Hayan Abdel Ghani told the official Iraqi News Agency at the weekend that the two sides have agreed on most issues for the resumption of crude exports via the 970-kilometre Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline except the one related to Kurdistan's oil consumption. He said budget auditors in both Baghdad and Erbil have set Kurdistan's share of domestic demand at 46,000 bpd but KRG insists on 65,000 bpd, which will reduce crude exports by around 19,000 bpd. 'Some issues have obstructed the agreement reached between the two sides for the resumption of oil exports via main obstacle is that financial auditors from the two sides have set Kurdistan's share of refined oil (domestic consumption) at 46,000 bpd but KRG insists on 65,000 bpd,' Abdel Ghani said. He noted that after Parliament approved an increase in subsidy for oil production in the Northern region this year, KRG must hand over produced oil to the federal government for export, adding that the budget set that quantity at 400,000 bpd. In June, Baghdad accused KRG of smuggling out oil supplies and inflicting heavy losses on the country's coffers, adding that KRG has failed to deliver produced crude or oil export revenues to the federal government in Baghdad. Iraq, OPEC's second largest oil producer, has been locked in a dispute with KRG over crude exports despite Kurdistan's support for an initial agreement to subsidise production and transport of Kurdistan's oil at a rate of $16 a barrel. In February, Iraq's parliament approved a budget amendment to subsidise production costs for international oil companies operating in KRG in a move aimed at unblocking northern oil exports. The amendment sets the rate at $16 a barrel, up from an earlier proposal for $7.9 for transport and production costs, which was rejected as too low by KRG. 'Who can believe that the rift between Baghdad and Erbil now is only about 19,000 barrels of oil…I don't think this is a real problem…it can be easily resolved by splitting that amount between the two sides,' said Nabil Al-Marsoumi, an economics professor at Basra University in South Iraq. Oil flows through the KRG's pipeline were halted by Turkey in March 2023 after the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) ordered Ankara to pay Baghdad damages of $1.5 billion for unauthorised exports by the KRG between 2014 and 2018. In May, Iraq deepened the rift when it declared its rejection of two major oil and gas contracts announced by KRG, branding them invalid under federal law. The disputed agreements involve the development of the Miran and Topkhana-Kurdamir fields in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Iraq's media reported, adding that Baghdad insists they cannot proceed without central government approval. Reports said earlier the Iraqi Oil Ministry decided to sue KRG over the deals. (Reporting by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon) (
LBCI
11-07-2025
- LBCI
Drones shot down near Iraqi Kurdish forces ahead of PKK disarmament ceremony
Two drones were shot down overnight near Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga bases, authorities said on Friday, hours before PKK fighters were to begin laying down their weapons at a ceremony in the autonomous region. Brigadier General Ahmed Latif, the spokesman for the peshmerga's 70th Unit in Sulaymaniyah, told AFP, "A drone flew over the command at 10:45 pm (1945 GMT on Thursday) and was shot down in an empty area," causing no casualties or damage. The Kurdistan counter-terrorism service reported that an "explosive-laden drone was shot down this morning, Friday... at 1:35 am (2235 GMT) near peshmerga positions in Altun Kupri in Kirkuk province," also without any casualties. AFP
Al Arabiya
11-07-2025
- Al Arabiya
Explosive drone downed near Kurdish Peshmerga forces in Iraq's Kirkuk: Reports
An explosive drone was shot down near Kurdish Peshmerga forces in Iraq's oil-rich province of Kirkuk early Friday, the Iraqi Kurdistan counterterrorism service said in a statement. Developing
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Yahoo
Three rockets of unknown origin fall in Iraq, Iranian media claim five drone strikes
Pro-Iran Iraqi outlet Sabereen News said that five drone strikes occurred, including two that hit an airbase in Iraq. Three rockets from an unidentified source fell on the northern city of Kirkuk in Iraq on Monday evening, Iraqi state-affiliated media reported, citing a statement from the Kirkuk International Airport Administration. Two of the missiles hit an Iraqi military airbase, while the third fell in a civilian area, Iraqi media reported. Security sources said at least two of the missiles were Katyusha rockets, which are of Russian origin. However, pro-Iran Iraqi outlet Sabereen News said that five drone strikes occurred, including two that hit the airbase, according to posts on social media. The drones resulted in a fire breaking out in the grass around the airbase, with videos of the blaze shared over social media. The fire was later extinguished by emergency services. One person sustained minor injuries from the attack. There was no damage caused to the airbase runway and airport facilities, and flight schedules were unaffected, the airport statement added. Earlier in June, several drones from unknown sources hit cities across Iraq, including a military base north of Baghdad, Camp Taji.
The National
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Drone carrying explosives shot down near Iraq's Erbil airport
A drone laden with explosives was shot down near Erbil airport in northern Iraq late on Thursday, the latest in a spate of drone attacks around the country in recent days. The counter-terrorism agency in the Kurdistan region said no casualties or damage had been reported, but the incident, at 9.58pm local time, delayed the landing of one aircraft. It was unclear who was responsible for the attack. Erbil's airport authority said 'flight operations continued normally and the airport was not affected by any damage'. The National has contacted authorities in Erbil for further comment. Erbil is the capital of Iraq's three-province Kurdistan region. The airport often comes under attack as it hosts an American airbase with hundreds of military personnel. The US usually blames such incidents on Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Iranian proxy groups have frequently threatened to expand attacks on US bases in the region. In recent days, drone and rocket attacks have been reported in several areas of Iraq, including drones that landed in open spaces. Earlier on Thursday, an explosive-packed drone fell near Kirkuk airport, which was also struck on Monday by two rockets, a senior security official told news agency AFP. Kirkuk airport hosts Iraqi army units, federal police and the Hashed Al Shaabi, a coalition of pro-Iran former paramilitary forces now integrated into Iraq's regular armed forces. On Tuesday, Iraq's anti-aircraft defence engaged at least one drone near the key oil refinery of Baiji in Salaheddin province. The incidents follow a 12-day aerial war between Iran and Israel that killed hundreds of people. During the war, several radar systems in Iraq were attacked by unidentified drones targeting military bases. Dozens of drones and missiles were seen flying through Iraqi airspace. One drone hit a radar system at Al Taji military base, north of Baghdad. Another drone attacked the radar system at the Imam Ali airbase in the southern Dhi Qar province, according to the government in Baghdad. Iraq has long been a battleground of drone and rocket attacks and has proved fertile ground for proxy wars. The country has only recently regained a semblance of stability after decades of devastating conflicts and turmoil.
