Drone attack halts production at Iraq's Khor Mor gas field, cutting power to Kurdistan

A drone strike on Iraq's Khor Mor gas field on November 8, 2026, ignited a storage tank fire and forced a complete halt in production. Operated by UAE-based Dana Gas, the facility's shutdown knocked out nearly 2,800 megawatts of electricity generation, leaving over 70 percent of the Kurdistan region without power. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi reported no casualties and formed a joint investigation, while comments from Kataib Hezbollah pointed toward militia involvement.

Impact on electricity and gas supply

• ▪The Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Electricity announced plans to direct power from hydroelectric facilities and alternative fuel sources to critical infrastructure including hospitals and water treatment plants
• ▪Gas supplies were halted to power plants in Erbil, Sulaimaniyah, Bazian, Chamchamal, and Duhok following the November 8, 2026 drone strike on Khor Mor
• ▪The shutdown of the Khor Mor gas field following the November 8, 2026 drone attack cut between 2,500 and 2,800 megawatts of power generation, leaving over 70 percent of Iraq's Kurdistan region without electricity

Reactions and investigations into the attack

• ▪The Kurdistan region's natural resources and electricity ministries issued a joint statement labeling the November 8, 2026 attack on Khor Mor as a terrorist attack
• ▪Abu Mujahid al-Assaf of the Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah made comments on November 8, 2026, referencing Khor Mor and accusing Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi of incitement to target the facility
• ▪A pro-Iran Telegram channel claimed a drone was used in the November 8, 2026 attack on the Khor Mor gas field, though no official claim of responsibility was made
• ▪Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi stated that initial assessments showed no casualties from the November 8, 2026 Khor Mor strike and ordered a joint investigative committee with Kurdish regional authorities

History of attacks on Khor Mor

• ▪The Khor Mor gas field was previously targeted by rocket and drone attacks in December 2025, February 2025, and August 2023
• ▪The Khor Mor gas field is jointly operated by the United Arab Emirates-based firm Dana Gas, which previously halted production in July 2026 due to security threats before restarting operations later that month

Disarming armed factions in Iraq

• ▪The United States has long pressured Iraq to disarm Iran-backed groups
• ▪Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi canceled contracts at Mosul airport associated with armed groups as part of ongoing efforts to disarm Iranian-backed factions in Iraq

Iranian attacks in northern Iraq

• ▪Iran has launched over 1,000 drone and missile attacks on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq since February 2026, prompting regional leadership to request drone defense systems from Baghdad
• ▪Tehran has launched military attacks against Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in northern Iraq