A drone strike has hit a key oil refinery in northern Iraq, sparking a fire and forcing officials to halt operations while the damage is assessed.
Authorities from Iraq’s Ministry of Natural Resources confirmed that the attack targeted the Lenaz refinery located in the Kurdistan region. The refinery plays an important role in distributing oil across northern Iraq, making the strike a significant concern for the region’s energy infrastructure.
Although the full extent of the damage is still being evaluated, officials say even limited disruption could impact fuel distribution and the regional economy. Oil production and export remain the backbone of the Kurdistan region’s economy.
The attack comes amid a growing wave of strikes across Iraq. Armed groups have recently targeted US bases, diplomatic facilities, and other strategic locations throughout the country.
The US embassy compound in Baghdad was also hit by missiles earlier the same day, damaging part of its air defense system. In response, the United States has advised its citizens to leave Iraq immediately due to the increasing threat of drone, missile, and rocket attacks against American interests.
The situation is particularly complex because some of the armed factions involved are part of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a network of militias that operate under the Iraqi military structure and receive state funding.
This puts Baghdad in a difficult position as it tries to balance relations between Washington, Tehran, and powerful armed groups operating inside Iraq.
Meanwhile, leaders in the Kurdistan region have called on Iraq’s central government to take stronger action to prevent further attacks on energy infrastructure and foreign facilities.
With strikes coming from multiple directions—including tensions involving the United States, Iran, and allied armed groups—Iraq has increasingly found itself caught in the middle of a wider regional conflict.
In this video we break down the latest developments, the significance of the refinery attack, and what it could mean for regional stability and global energy markets.
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