Iraqi Sources Say Drone That Hit Khor Mor Was Launched from Tuz Khurmatu
Intelligence officer, gas field guards, and Iraqi military personnel point to Tuz Khurmatu as the suspected launch area, as investigations continue to identify those responsible
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Several Iraqi military and intelligence sources have indicated that the drone used in Sunday's attack on the Khor Mor gas field in Sulaimani province was launched from the Tuz Khurmatu district in Salah al-Din province, although investigations are still underway to establish the precise launch site and identify those responsible.
An Iraqi army intelligence officer holding the rank of colonel told Kurdistan24 early Monday that, based on the sound of the drone during its flight, it appeared to have been launched from within the boundaries of Tuz Khurmatu district before heading toward the gas field.
Security personnel guarding the Khor Mor facility provided similar accounts to Kurdistan24, saying they had heard the drone and believed it had approached the site from the direction of Tuz Khurmatu.
Separately, the command of the Second Joint Brigade of Iraqi forces, stationed at the main checkpoint at the entrance to Tuz Khurmatu, confirmed that its personnel had heard the sound of the drone flying over the area from the direction of the district before the attack.
Meanwhile, investigative teams and security forces are continuing to collect further evidence to determine the exact origin of the attack and identify the party responsible.
Tuz Khurmatu's Strategic Location
Tuz Khurmatu is one of the disputed territories outside the administrative boundaries of the Kurdistan Region. Its population is predominantly Kurdish and Turkmen, alongside a smaller Arab community.
During the former Baathist regime, an administrative decision separated the district from Kirkuk province and placed it under Salah al-Din province, as part of policies that altered the administrative and demographic character of several disputed areas.
Geographically, Tuz Khurmatu lies southwest of the Khor Mor gas field, making the direction identified by the Iraqi sources particularly relevant to the ongoing investigation.
Following the events of Oct. 16, 2017, Tuz Khurmatu came under the control of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and other Iraqi security forces. The Federal Police currently oversee internal security in the district, while, alongside the Iraqi Army, armed Turkmen PMF factions are also stationed outside the district and in surrounding areas.
The reported direction of the drone's approach has brought renewed attention to the security situation in the disputed territories and the deployment of armed forces around areas close to critical energy infrastructure.
Electricity Generation Plunges
The attack has also triggered a major disruption to Iraq's electricity generation. A source familiar with the Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Electricity told Kurdistan24 that gas supplies to power stations, which had exceeded 600 million cubic feet per day, dropped to zero at 11:03 p.m. on Sunday following the incident.
As a result, electricity generation fell from more than 3,700 megawatts to approximately 1,000 megawatts, resulting in a loss of between 2,500 and 2,700 megawatts of generating capacity.
With no indication yet of when gas deliveries will resume, national electricity supplies are expected to decline by five to six hours per day, with the distribution of available power adjusted according to provinces and areas.