Erbil: Explosive-laden drones struck three oil fields in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region early Wednesday, forcing temporary shutdowns. This marks the fifth site targeted within a week in the region, raising concerns over the security of energy infrastructures.

According to Deutsche Welle, the latest attacks followed a drone strike on Tuesday on the Sarsang field, operated by American firm HKN Energy, which resulted in a halt in production. Similar strikes were reported at the Khurmala field on Monday, and an additional drone was intercepted near Erbil airport. While the culprits remain unidentified, preliminary investigations by Iraqi Kurdistan security sources suggest the drones originated from regions controlled by Iran-backed militias.

The damage from these attacks is currently being assessed, with oil production expected to resume once assessments are complete, as stated by DNO, the company involved. The ongoing drone campaign is believed to be linked to regional proxy conflicts involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, with Iran supporting Shiite militant groups in Iraq, such as Kataib Hezbollah.

These strikes occur amid heightened tensions between the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan authorities over oil exports and a stalled pipeline to Turkey, further complicating the region's geopolitical landscape.