Widespread blackout caused by drone attack on Khor Mor gas field, exposing Iraqi vulnerabilities

BySETH J. FRANTZMANNOVEMBER 9, 2026 14:32

An attack on the Khor Mor gas field in the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq on November 8 has highlighted the continuing threats to the Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq. The attack targeted a key energy facility and has caused electricity outages. The attack was apparently carried out by a drone. There have been previous attacks on the same site, usually carried out by Iranian-backed militias.

The attack comes amid political tensions between the Kurdistan Region's two main parties and a growing confrontation between Baghdad and Iran-backed militias over weapons and economic influence. Dana Gas, the UAE-based company operating the Khor Mor field, said on November 9 that the facility had been targeted overnight, causing a fire and forcing the suspension of gas production.

"Dana Gas (PJSC) informs the market that the Khor Mor facility in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq was subject to a suspected drone attack on the night of 8 November 2026, which caused a fire," the company said in a statement quoted by Rudaw. "The fire has since been extinguished, and there were no injuries to personnel."

The company said it was assessing the damage and coordinating with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and federal authorities. Kurdistan Regional authorities also said “gas production at the Khor Mor Gas field has stopped following a drone attack. The field is the primary fuel source for power plants in the Kurdistan Region.”

US Envoy to Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack, who is also US Ambassador to Turkey, wrote on X/Twitter, “We condemn the attack on Khor Mor, which was an attack on the Iraqi people. We support Prime Minister Zaidi and the Kurdistan Regional Government in finding those responsible and holding them to account.”

Gas storage, truck-loading facility struck, depriving region of natural gas

The attack struck a gas storage and truck-loading facility containing approximately 1,500 tons of cooking gas, according to Rudaw. The field, located in the Chamchamal district of Sulaimani province, provides much of the natural gas used to generate electricity in the Kurdistan Region.

The KRG Electricity Ministry said the shutdown would reduce electricity generation capacity by 2,800 megawatts. This shows how attacks on a single energy facility can affect millions of people who depend on electricity and essential services.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered a joint investigation with the KRG. According to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), his office described the incident as a "heinous attack" that occurred at 11:10 p.m. on November 8.

The origin of the attack remains unclear. Rudaw reported that a security source suggested it originated near Tuz Khurmatu, south of Kirkuk. This is an area that is well known to have a presence of Iranian-backed militias. Telegram channels associated with pro-Iran Iraqi armed groups claimed that a suicide drone had been used. However, no perpetrator has been conclusively identified.

Khor Mor has been attacked repeatedly in recent years. A KRG official told Rudaw in July that the field had been targeted around 12 times, with three personnel killed in previous incidents.

Attacks increased following the outbreak of the US-Israel war with Iran in February 2026. The Kurdistan Region has faced more than 1,000 drone and missile attacks since the conflict began, according to Rudaw.

The latest strike comes as Iraq faces broader questions about the role of Iran-backed militias. Baghdad has been seeking to bring armed factions under greater state control, while Washington has increased pressure on the Iraqi government to curb Tehran's influence. One issue is that the US wants Iraq to close most of its land borders with Iran. This may be linked to a new CENTCOM task force aimed at stopping Iran from trafficking weapons overland. In Iraq, the Badr Organization has said it rejects the US demand. Badr is both a political group in parliament and controls numerous militia brigades in Iraq.

Al-Zaidi attacks militia-linked economic networks

Iraq’s Prime Minister Al-Zaidi has also moved against economic networks linked to the militias. According to Rudaw, the prime minister recently canceled three commercial contracts at Mosul International Airport over suspected militia connections and directed Iraq's defense procurement authorities to deal directly with manufacturers rather than intermediaries.

The militias came to control areas in the Nineveh plains when ISIS was defeated. They exploited the power vacuum to take control of these areas.

These decisions have led to tensions with Kataib Hezbollah, one of Iraq's most powerful Iran-backed factions. The group's security chief, Abu Mujahid al-Assaf, responded by accusing the prime minister of accumulating vast personal wealth, allegations that have not been independently substantiated.

The confrontation illustrates how the struggle over militia influence extends beyond weapons to include government contracts, economic interests and political power.

Meanwhile, efforts to regulate militia arsenals remain contested. Shafaq News reported that Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said several factions had accepted weapons controls. However, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada disputed his account, denying that it had agreed to surrender its weapons.

Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba remain among the groups resisting Baghdad's efforts to bring armed factions under state authority. The goal of Baghdad is to have the militias hand over their arms by June 2027.

Tensions and political divisions also run high inside the Kurdistan Region. On November 9, Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani called for dialogue with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), days after the PUK withdrew from the regional government in protest against the reactivation of parliament.

"The interest of the people of Kurdistan is greater than any other interest or objective," Barzani said, according to Rudaw. The political crisis complicates efforts to coordinate security and governance at a time when the Kurdistan Region faces renewed attacks.

Meanwhile, south of the Kurdistan Region, there are ISIS threats in and around Kirkuk. Iraq's army chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah, also visited the Kirkuk operations sector on November 9 to review military deployments and the security situation, INA reported. Kirkuk and areas near it may also be used by militias to target Khor Mor.

The attack on Khor Mor illustrates the challenges facing Iraq. Critical energy infrastructure remains vulnerable, the Kurdistan Region is divided politically, and Baghdad is struggling to assert control.

Follow us on Google

---