Drone attack on Tawke oilfield, Iraqi Kurdistan
The Kurdistan Region's Counter-Terrorism Service said that a drone attacked an oilfield operated in northern Iraq by Norwegian oil and Gas firm DNO, Tawke in the Zakho Administration Area, on Thursday.
This is the second drone attack on a DNO-operated area since the wave began earlier this week.
The counter-terrorism service reported that DNO, which operates Tawke and Peshkabour in the Zakho region bordering Turkey, temporarily halted production following explosions at the fields that did not cause any injuries.
DNO didn't immediately respond to a comment request.
Two energy officials reported on Wednesday that this week's drone strikes have caused oil production in Iraq's semiautonomous Kurdistan Region to drop by 140,000-150,000 barrels a day. Infrastructure damage has also forced multiple shut-downs.
On Wednesday, the Dohuk region in northern Iraq was hit by an attack on the Ain Sifni Oilfield operated by Hunt Oil of America.
Hunt Oil reported that no one on its team was injured, and the company's facilities have been shut down as it assesses damage.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility. Iraqi Kurdistan sources have said that initial investigations indicate the drone was shot from areas controlled by Iran-backed militias. (Reporting and writing by Ahmed Rasheed; editing by Hugh Lawson Barbara Lewis Sharon Singleton).
(source: Reuters)
