Khor Mor drone attack raises fears over Iraq’s energy security

Drone strike disrupts electricity supplies in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, renewing concerns about armed groups. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has ordered the formation of a joint investigative committee with KRG authorities to determine who was behind the attack.

No group has claimed responsibility, but the attack comes as regional tensions are heightened due to the US-Israel war on Iran, with Baghdad facing pressure to bring weapons held by predominantly pro-Iranian Shia armed factions under state control . KRG authorities have blamed Iran-backed groups in Iraq for previous attacks on the field in recent years.

The attack also comes days after the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) announced its withdrawal from the KRG , deepening a political crisis with its rival, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). “The [federal Iraqi] government bears responsibility for protecting Iraqi territory and airspace,” Amer told Al Jazeera.