An explosion at an oil production facility in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region on Tuesday forced a suspension of operations, according to a statement from the U.S.-based energy firm HKN Energy.
The incident occurred at approximately 7:00 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) at the company’s Sarang field, HKN said. “Operations at the affected facility have been suspended until the site is secured,” the company added, without reporting casualties or detailing the extent of the damage.
The explosion follows a series of drone and rocket attacks in recent weeks across Kurdistan, many of which are suspected to be linked to regional tensions and proxy conflicts. On Monday, three explosive-laden drones targeted the region—two struck the Khurmala oil field, causing material damage, while another was intercepted near Arbil airport.
Kurdish authorities previously accused the Iran-aligned Hashed al-Shaabi militia—now officially part of Iraq’s armed forces—of involvement in a drone shot down near Arbil airport on July 3.
The latest unrest comes amid ongoing disputes between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government over oil exports. A key pipeline through Turkey remains shut since 2023 due to legal and technical disagreements. In May, Iraq’s federal government filed a legal complaint against Kurdistan for independently signing gas deals with U.S. firms, including HKN Energy.
