ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday urged Washington to provide Erbil with defense equipment to counter attacks after the Region’s main gas field was struck, resulting in a widespread blackout. 

A strike targeted the key Khor Mor gas field in Sulaimani province late Wednesday. The UAE-based Dana Gas, the field’s operator, said the following day that the liquified petroleum gas (LPG) section was “struck by a rocket attack,” causing no injuries but shutting down production as the blaze has yet to be extinguished. 

“I also urge our American and international partners to provide the defensive equipment necessary to protect our civilian infrastructure, and to support us in taking serious action to deter these attacks on our people and our progress,” Barzani said on X. 

The Kurdistan Region’s natural resources and electricity ministries said the field was targeted by a drone strike, with power supply across the Region slashed by 80 percent and electricity production down to 1,000 MW from 4,000 MW.

Omed Ahmed, the electricity ministry spokesperson, told The New Region that the attack has sparked “great concern” of a “complete power outage across the Region.” 

As of Thursday morning, the fire at the gas field has yet to be controlled, a source from the facility confirmed to The New Region. 

“The usual terrorists or whoever may be behind tonight’s attacks cannot be allowed to repeat these crimes or be released on bail, as in the past,” Prime Minister Barzani stressed, urging Baghdad to “find the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”

Aziz Ahmad, deputy chief of staff to Barzani, similarly blamed “the usual terrorists” for the attack, with pro-Iran armed groups having routinely attacked the facility to disrupt the Kurdistan Region’s electricity generation capabilities and harm its economy.

“Electricity exports to the rest of Iraq – roughly 10 percent of the country’s entire generation – have also flatlined,” Ahmad said.

Similar drone attacks took place in the Region’s oil and gas fields in July in Erbil and Duhok provinces. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) attributed the attacks to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella of Iraqi Shiite armed groups that reportedly maintains strong ties to Iran. 

Iraq's Joint Operations Command said that there were no casualties recorded in the attack, adding that "those behind these attacks will receive their just punishment." 

"This attack poses a direct threat to the interests of the Iraqi people and constitutes a serious act of terrorism aimed at hindering and delaying efforts to establish security and economic stability," it said. 

The Khor Mor field is the main producer of the Kurdistan Region’s electricity, with natural gas reserves of around 1.8 trillion cubic feet. It is operated by Dana Gas, which, alongside affiliate Crescent Petroleum, agreed to a deal with the KRG in 2007 to develop the Region’s gas capacities.

This marks the second time the facility, located in Sulaimani province's Chamchamal district, has been targeted this week. On Monday, two drones were shot down by security forces in the vicinity of the field.