# Kurdish Minister Rebuts Allegations Regarding Khor Mor Gasfield Attack

Deputy Minister Ahmed Mufti rejects claims of internal sabotage following the critical energy facility strike.

- **Source:** [The National](https://www.thenationalnews.com)
- **Published:** 2026-11-11
- **Topic:** [world](https://brifing.si/c/world)
- **Original article:** <https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/11/11/kurdish-minister-rebuts-nonsense-claims-over-khor-mor-gasfield-attack/>
- **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/d486e5c0-ae79-457c-a939-03835afa4ad9

## Official Rejection of Claims

Ahmed Mufti, Deputy Minister for Natural Resources of the Kurdistan Region, dismissed allegations that Kurdish groups orchestrated the attack on the Khor Mor gasfield. He labeled these suggestions as nonsense and urged officials to refrain from speculation. Mufti emphasized that the government is fully cooperating with the ongoing official investigation launched by Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi.

## Conflicting Security Narratives

Basim Al Badri, head of Iraq’s National Security Department, previously suggested that internal feuding among Kurdish groups could be responsible for the strike. Mufti expressed surprise at the speed of this statement, noting it was made within 24 hours of the incident. He argued that such claims are emotional rather than based on verified evidence.

## Severe Energy Supply Impact

The attack on the Khor Mor facility caused significant disruptions to Iraq’s energy infrastructure. According to estimates by operator Crescent Petroleum, approximately 10 million people were left without electricity and cooking fuel. Consequently, the market price of electricity more than doubled, highlighting the critical nature of the facility to the nation's daily power supply.

## Technical Capabilities and Skepticism

Industry insiders operating at the Khor Mor site maintain that they possess the technical capability to track the trajectory of incoming drones. One source described the government's internal sabotage theory as insulting, comparing the claim to stating the sky is green. This suggests a significant gap between security officials and the technical operators on-site.

## Extent of Facility Damage

Majid Jafar, CEO of Crescent Petroleum, confirmed that the recent strike was among the worst of the 12 attacks recorded at the facility. The company is currently assessing the scale of damage to production equipment. Jafar noted that repairs will be extensive, occurring at a time when regional tensions were perceived to be de-escalating.

## Government Response and Sovereignty

Jafar praised the Iraqi government’s swift response, characterizing the strike as an assault on Iraq’s sovereignty and its people. Prime Minister Al Zaidi has formed an investigation committee to address the security breach. This follows previous meetings in June where the government promised to enhance protections and provide compensation for energy companies operating in the region.

## Broader Regional Security Context

The incident occurs as the Iraqi government struggles to disarm various Iran-backed Shiite militias operating within its borders. These groups have previously targeted energy facilities in the Gulf as a response to US involvement in Iran. The current investigation aims to determine if this pattern of regional proxy conflict influenced the latest attack on Khor Mor.

## Future Accountability Expectations

Operators are now demanding concrete steps from the Iraqi government to ensure long-term security. Unlike previous incidents, stakeholders are calling for the identification and prosecution of the perpetrators. The focus remains on whether the current investigation will move beyond promises to deliver tangible results, ensuring the safety of critical infrastructure against future drone strikes.

## Sources covering this story

- https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/11/11/kurdish-minister-rebuts-nonsense-claims-over-khor-mor-gasfield-attack/ — 

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_Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._
