Sardar Group Says Drone Attack on Civilian Oil Depot in Erbil Caused Estimated $5 Million in Losses
Sardar Group says losses from a previous drone strike on its Erbil oil depot reached $5 million, highlighting ongoing risks to the region’s commercial sector.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The full extent of the damage from a recent drone attack on a commercial site in Erbil has come into clearer focus, with the Sardar Group now disclosing that the incident caused an estimated $5 million in losses.
On Thursday, Dashti Abdullah, Head of Media and Communications at Sardar Group, provided Kurdistan24 an updated details on the aftermath of the strike, which had targeted a motor oil storage depot belonging to the company.
“This location was only a depot for automotive motor oil of the Castrol type and grease, and it has no connection to any political or military entity. Our company is a civilian and commercial enterprise with branches across most Iraqi provinces and the Kurdistan Region,” Abdullah said.
He confirmed that the material losses caused by the attack are estimated at approximately five million dollars.
The strike itself had been carried out using four drones, which targeted the depot and sparked a massive fire. Due to the nature of the stored materials—motor oil and grease—the blaze spread rapidly, making it extremely difficult for firefighting teams to contain. The facility was ultimately destroyed fully as flames engulfed the entire site.
The attack formed part of a series of strikes carried out by outlawed groups targeting the Kurdistan Region. Business owners and investors have warned that such attacks aim to destabilize security, disrupt economic activity, and hinder development across the region.
They have also called on the federal government to take decisive measures to curb the activities of these groups, stressing that such incidents directly impact civilian livelihoods and the commercial sector.
Kurdistan Region political leadership has repeatedly emphasized that the region is not a party to ongoing regional conflicts. Despite this, armed groups continue to target civilian populations and commercial infrastructure.
While the flames have long subsided, the financial and economic impact of the attack continues to unfold, highlighting the vulnerability of commercial assets in an increasingly volatile environment.