Foreign Oil Workers Leave Iraq While Production Cut Due To Iranian Attacks

  

Iran’s new policy of attacking Iraq’s oil industry to put pressure upon the Trump administration to stop the war is having an immediate impact.

 

On March 6 a residential compound for oil workers was hit by a drone in the Burjisiya oil complex in Basra leading to a fire. The oil service company KBR appeared to be the target. That led foreign workers to begin leaving Iraq.  

 

At the same time Iraq began cutting two thirds of its oil production in Basra. A Basra Oil Company official said production went from around 3.3 million barrels a day down to 1.3 million. That’s because the Strait of Hormuz is closed due to the war which is the main export route for Iraq’s petroleum.

 

Iraq is the most oil dependent country in the world so the war is posing an existential threat to the nation. Before the war the government was unable to fully pay some its workers due to low oil prices. Now it may not be able to export oil for weeks. Foreign sales account for 90% of the state’s revenues. The entire economy may collapse as a result leading to social unrest.

 

The U.S. is attempting to get Iraq more involved in the war. President Trump called Masoud Barzani the head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Bafel Talabani leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan to encourage them to support Iran’s Kurds against their government. A Kurdish official told Asharq al-Awsat that the Americans abandoned the Syrian Kurds so it may not make sense for them to take part in Trump’s plans.

 

In war news a drone was shot down targeting the Peshmerga headquarters in Sulaymaniya on March 6.

 

On March 7 a Kurdish security officer was killed in a drone attack upon Irbil airport.  Air defense also shot down drones over Irbil city.

 

On March 8 a rocket fell on Shamshoumiya in Basra. The pro-Iran Resistance claimed 24 operations that day.

 

SOURCES

 

Asharq Al-Awsat, “Iraq’s Kurds Caught Between Washington and Tehran,” 3/8/26

 

Bas News, “Air Defenses Shoot Down Suicide Drones Over Erbil: Statement,” 3/8/26

 

Iraq Oil Report, “Oil companies evacuate as Burjisiya drone attack highlights rising threat,” 3/8/26

 

Kurdistan 24, “Dozens of Strikes reported by Iraqi Islamic Resistance as U.S.-Iran-Israel Conflict Continues,” 3/8/26

 

Rudaw, “Basra oil output drops by 2 million bpd amid regional conflict,” 3/8/26

 

Salem, Amr, “Security officer killed at Erbil International Airport after drone attack,” Iraqi News, 3/8/26

 

Shafaq News, “A rocket fell near a school in central Basra,” 3/8/26