ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Diplomatic missions on Thursday condemned the latest drone attack on the Kurdistan Region’s strategic Khor Mor gas field, expressing strong support for Erbil while urging Baghdad to identify and prosecute the perpetrators.
The European Union representation in Iraq said it was “very concerned” by the attack.
“We condemn this attack against civilian energy infrastructure, which affects citizens across the country,” the EU said, reiterating its “commitment to continue to cooperate closely with the Iraqi federal government and the KRG towards security, stability and reforms to the benefit of Iraq and the region.”
The drone strike targeted a storage tank at the Khor Mor gas field, sparking a fire that was contained after several hours. The assault has been widely condemned and labeled a terrorist attack, with Kurdish officials calling on Baghdad to investigate and hold those responsible to account. No group has claimed responsibility.
In a strongly worded statement, America’s newly appointed Special Envoy to Baghdad, Mark Savaya, blamed armed groups “operating illegally and driven by hostile foreign agendas” for the attack.
“The Government of Iraq must identify those responsible for this assault and bring them to justice,” Savaya wrote on X. “Let it be unequivocal: there is no place for such armed groups in a fully sovereign Iraq. The United States will fully support these efforts. Every illegal armed group and supporter will be tracked, confronted, and held accountable.”
Savaya added that the Trump administration supports a strong Kurdistan within a united and stable Iraq, urging Baghdad and Erbil to “deepen their security cooperation and work closely to safeguard vital economic and energy infrastructure.”
The British Embassy in Baghdad and the UK Consulate General in Erbil also “strongly” condemned the attack, saying it threatened “Iraq’s stability and the safety of its people.”
“The UK stands with Iraqi partners and supports efforts to protect vital facilities,” the mission said, calling for “accountability for those responsible.”
France’s Ambassador to Baghdad, Patrick Durel, reiterated his government’s commitment to Iraq’s security, including that of the Kurdistan Region.
“We strongly condemn last night’s attack on the Khor Mor gas field,” Durel said. “Energy infrastructure benefits all citizens.”
The Czech Republic and the Netherlands also joined the wave of condemnation.
“The Embassy and Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands fully align themselves with the EU statement,” the Dutch diplomatic mission in Erbil said in an X post.
In a meeting with Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, Lukas Gjuric, Prague’s newly appointed consul general to Erbil, “strongly condemned the terrorist attack” on the Region’s lifeline gas field.
Neighboring Turkey and the UAE joined the international community in condemning the drone attack.
"We condemn such actions targeting civilian infrastructure," Oncu Keceli, spokesperson of Turkey's foreign ministry wrote on X. "Our Erbil Consulate General has ensured that necessary measures are taken for the safety of our citizens working at the site in question."
The UAE's newly appointed Consul General to Erbil, Ahmed Hassan Ahmed Sulaiman Al-Shehhi, also condemned the attack in a meeting with Kurdistan Region's Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani.
"We request that the federal government, without any delay, and as soon as possible, reveal who are those behind the attack to the public," Talabani said in a Facebook post. "
The Kurdistan Region’s oil and gas facilities have been targeted dozens of times in recent years. Kurdish officials consistently blame “terrorist” groups — a reference to Iraqi militia factions that operate outside the federal government’s control despite their formal integration into the state security apparatus.
Located in the Chamchamal district, the Khor Mor gas field is operated by Pearl Petroleum, a consortium that includes UAE-based Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum. The site has been repeatedly hit by Katyusha rockets and drones in recent years, attacks Kurdish authorities have attributed to Iran-backed militias.
Dana Gas said Thursday that production at the facility “has been shut down to extinguish the fire and conduct a situation assessment,” adding that it continues to coordinate with local authorities and will provide further updates “in due course.”
Updated at 09:39pm
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