Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Restless Pro-Iran Groups Likely Behind Drone Strike On Khor Mor Gas Field


On February 2 the Khor Mor gas field in Sulaymaniya was hit with a drone. No damage was reported. The Kurdistan Regional Government’s Counter Terrorism Directorate said that the attack came from the Bashir area which is just below the city of Kirkuk. The Kurds blamed militias for the attack referring to the pro-Iran Hashd factions known as the Islamic Resistance.

 

These groups have been silent for the last three months. Their last operation was on November 25 when they sent drones against Israel for the Gaza War. Afterwards they gave into pressure from the Sudani government and Tehran to cease activities out of fear of U.S. and Israeli retaliation.

 

Since then the Assad regime in Syria fell, Hamas and Hezbollah were devastated and their sponsor Iran suffered as well at the hands of Israel. The new Trump administration is also threatening sanctions against Iraq for its ties to Tehran. That has led the ruling Coordination Framework to discuss integrating, disarming and even disbanding the Resistance to appease Washington. These groups are none too happy with these talking points with some openly rejecting any changes.

 

Their frustration was probably what led to the Khor Mor attack. The Kurds are seen as U.S. allies and the gas facility has been targeted before as a result. The last time was in April 2024. The factions have been defiant before and this is the latest sign that they reject being controlled by Baghdad. This is supported by Iran which wants the Resistance to not cause trouble but to retain their weapons and power so that they might be used in the future. It’s also the reason why if any reforms are carried out they will be cosmetic and not substantive as the Iraqi government has little sway over the pro-Iran camp.

 

SOURCES

 

Dri, Karwan Faidhi, “Drone attack targets Khor Mor gas field,” Rudaw, 2/2/25

 

Al Rafidain, “Iraqi Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Directorate: Outlaw Militias Threatened Khor Mor,” 2/3/25

 

Al Sumaria, “Counter-terrorism in Kurdistan: The attack on the Koror field was carried out from Kirkuk,” 2/3/25

 

 

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