Drone Attack Halts Gas Production at Iraq’s Khor Mor Field, Cutting Kurdistan Power
Direct answer
Production stopped at Iraq’s Khor Mor gas field on Sunday night, November 8, 2026, after a drone hit a gas storage tank and started a fire. The attack cut about 2.8 gigawatts of power generation in the Kurdistan region, roughly two thirds of its normal supply. No casualties were reported in the first assessment, and no group has claimed responsibility.
What happened
Around 11pm local time on Sunday, November 8, a drone struck the liquefied petroleum gas storage tank at Khor Mor, in Chamchamal district in Sulaymaniyah province. The strike set off a fire that was still burning hours later, and workers at the field were ordered into shelters in case of further attacks.
Production was suspended, and gas supplies were cut to power stations serving five cities: Erbil, Sulaimaniyah, Bazian, Chamchamal and Duhok. The Kurdistan region’s electricity ministry said generation would fall by 2,500 to 2,800 megawatts, about 2.8 gigawatts.
Iraq’s prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, said an initial assessment found no casualties, and he ordered a joint investigation with the authorities in the Kurdistan region. The region’s natural resources and electricity ministries described the attack as a terrorist attack and said they were working to limit its impact. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Khor Mor is operated by Pearl Petroleum, a consortium led by Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum of the UAE. The field produces about 750 million cubic feet of natural gas a day, and it is the main fuel source for most of Kurdistan’s power stations. The field has been hit before. In July, the operator shut the main production facilities over security threats and regional tensions, then restarted them later the same month.
Why it matters for beginners
Energy sits behind almost everything in daily life, from the lights in a home to the cost of fuel and food. When a major gas field stops producing, power plants lose their fuel, and homes and businesses can lose electricity within hours. In Kurdistan, the attack knocked out about two thirds of normal power generation in one night.
The field’s gas mainly supplies local power plants rather than export markets, so the direct effect on global gas prices is limited. But attacks on energy sites in the Middle East still raise worries about wider supply, and energy markets react fast to war and peace signals. On Monday, oil prices fell after US President Donald Trump said fresh strikes on Iran were unlikely while talks continue, as covered in our report on oil prices falling as Trump says fresh Iran attacks are unlikely: https://investclaritypath.com/oil-falls-trump-says-fresh-iran-attacks-unlikely/
For beginners, the lesson is simple. Geopolitics can move energy prices quickly, and energy prices feed into inflation, which in turn shapes what central banks do with interest rates. A single attack far away can show up in your fuel bill and in the cost of living.
What to watch next
First, watch whether production restarts and how long repairs take. A short shutdown is a local power problem, while a long one would deepen the strain on the region.
Second, watch whether any group claims responsibility and whether more attacks follow. Repeated strikes on energy sites would raise the risk for the whole region.
Third, watch power restoration in Kurdistan, and whether hospitals and water stations stay supplied from hydropower and other fuel plants, as the electricity ministry said it would try to do.
Finally, watch the wider US and Iran talks. Progress there would calm energy markets, while a breakdown would push oil and gas prices back up.
FAQ
Where is the Khor Mor gas field?
It is in Chamchamal district in Sulaymaniyah province, in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. It is one of the largest gas fields in the region.
How much power was lost?
About 2.8 gigawatts, roughly two thirds of the Kurdistan region’s normal power supply, according to the region’s electricity ministry.
Was anyone hurt?
No casualties were found in the initial assessment, according to Iraq’s prime minister.
Does this affect global gas prices?
The field’s gas mainly feeds local power plants, so the direct global effect is limited. But attacks in the region can still raise energy risk and move oil prices.
Who runs the field?
Pearl Petroleum, a consortium led by Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum of the UAE.
Sources
Reuters, “Production suspended at Iraq’s Khor Mor gas field after drone attack, sources say”, November 8, 2026: https://985theriver.com/2026/11/08/production-suspended-at-iraqs-khor-mor-gas-field-after-drone-attack-sources-say/
The Insight International, “Drone attack halts gas production at Khor Mor field in Sulaimani”, November 8, 2026: https://theinsightinternational.com/drone-attack-halts-gas-production-at-khor-mor-field/
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
