US Presidential Envoy Condemns Attack on Kurdistan Region's Khor Mor Gas Field
US envoy Tom Barrack condemns the Khor Mor drone attack and backs Baghdad and the KRG in identifying those responsible as gas production remains suspended.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - US Presidential Envoy to Iraq and Syria Tom Barrack condemned the drone attack on the Khor Mor gas field on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, describing the strike as an attack on the Iraqi people and expressing support for efforts by Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to identify and hold those responsible accountable.
"We condemn the attack on Khor Mor, which was an attack on the Iraqi people. We support Prime Minister Zaidi and the Kurdistan Regional Government in finding those responsible and holding them to account," Barrack wrote on X.
His statement followed Sunday night's strike on the gas facility in Sulaimani province, which sparked a major fire, halted production and disrupted electricity generation across the Kurdistan Region.
Barrack did not identify a suspected perpetrator or announce any specific US role in the investigation. His remarks emphasized support for cooperation between federal and regional authorities as they seek to establish responsibility.
Joint Investigation Ordered
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi has ordered a joint investigative committee involving federal authorities and relevant officials in the Kurdistan Region to examine the circumstances of the attack.
According to the Iraqi Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief's Media Office, the strike occurred at approximately 11:10 p.m. on Nov. 8 at the Khor Mor facility in Chamchamal district. Authorities have not announced findings identifying the individuals or groups responsible.
Kurdistan24 correspondent Harem Jaff reported that the attack struck the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) production unit in the facility's "Old Field" section, causing substantial material damage. An emergency alarm sounded before the impact, allowing workers to take shelter. No casualties were reported among employees or security personnel.
Several Iraqi security sources have suggested that the drone approached from the direction of Khurmatu, southwest of the field. A military intelligence officer, field guards and personnel at a Khurmatu checkpoint described hearing an aircraft in that direction.
Those accounts have not established the drone's launch site, and investigators are continuing to collect evidence. No armed faction has been officially identified as responsible for the attack.
Dana Gas Confirms Shutdown
Dana Gas, the operator of Khor Mor, confirmed Monday in a disclosure to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange that a drone had struck the facility and caused a fire that was subsequently extinguished.
The company said no employees were injured, but production remained suspended while the damage was assessed. It gave no date for restarting operations and said it was coordinating with both the KRG and federal authorities, which had expressed strong support.
The interruption has had immediate consequences for electricity supplies. A source at the KRG Ministry of Electricity told Kurdistan24 that generation had dropped from more than 3,700 megawatts to around 1,000 megawatts, a loss estimated at between 2,500 and 2,700 megawatts.
Ministry spokesperson Omed Ahmed earlier warned that the disruption could reduce generation by as much as 2,800 megawatts. Gas deliveries to power stations serving Erbil, Sulaimani, Bazian, Chamchamal and Duhok were interrupted.
Located in the Qadir Karam subdistrict of Chamchamal, Khor Mor has supplied natural gas to the Region's electricity network since October 2008. Gas from the site travels by pipeline to generating facilities, making the field a critical part of the system.
The KRG's Natural Resources and Electricity ministries condemned the strike and said they were working to reduce its effects on residents. Electricity control personnel worked through the night to avoid a wider blackout, according to ministry reporting. Officials have not said how long the emergency arrangements will be needed.
To manage the shortage, the ministry announced plans to operate hydropower stations at the Dukan and Darbandikhan dams and use generators capable of running on alternative fuels. Officials said essential services, including hospitals and water stations, would receive priority.
The ministry has stressed that normal electricity supplies depend on gas production resuming at Khor Mor. The extent of the damage and the timetable for restoration have not been established.
Barrack's condemnation adds a US diplomatic response to the investigation already announced by Baghdad. For now, the central questions remain who carried out the strike, when operations can safely resume and how quickly electricity supplies can be restored.