A drone attack on the Khor Mor gas facility in northern Iraq's Kurdish region left over 70 percent of the area without power. The incident happened on Sunday night and caused a fire at the facility. This significantly disrupted the electricity supply, according to Iraqi and Kurdish officials.
Key Details
Omid Ahmed, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Electricity, said the attack stopped gas supply to power plants in several cities, including Erbil and Sulaimaniyah. The strike took between 2,500 and 2,800 megawatts of electricity off the grid. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi reported no casualties after an initial assessment. He also announced the formation of a joint investigative committee to look into the attack.
Background
US President Donald Trump confirmed that a blockade on Iran's land supply routes, called “Iron Gate,” is now in effect. He said that renewed military strikes against Iran are “highly unlikely” if progress is made in talks about Tehran's nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The timing of the drone strike raises questions about its link to ongoing tensions involving US and Israel's military operations against Iran.
Related coverage: Iran’s Oil Reserves Depleted Amid US Naval Blockade.
The attack on the Khor Mor gas facility could affect energy supply in the region. This may impact electricity prices and stability in northern Iraq. Investors will watch for further developments regarding the investigation and any effects on regional energy security.
Based on reporting by: aljazeera.com