Erbil, Kurdistan Region – The United States has strongly condemned recent drone strikes targeting critical oil infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), calling the attacks "unacceptable" and demanding accountability.

In a joint statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil, Washington denounced the July 14 and July 15 assaults on the Khurmala and Sarsang oil fields, emphasizing that such acts "undermine Iraq’s sovereignty and harm efforts to attract foreign investment."

The U.S. urged the Iraqi government to "exercise its authority to prevent armed groups from launching attacks within its territory," particularly against sites vital to Iraq’s economy and international partnerships.

The condemnation follows two confirmed attacks on energy infrastructure in the KRI:

Sarsang Oil Field (Duhok Province) – On Tuesday morning, HKN Energy Ltd. reported an explosion at its production facility in the Sarang field, part of the larger Sarsang block. While all personnel were safely evacuated, the site was engulfed in flames, forcing operations to halt as emergency teams battled the fire.

Khurmala Oil Field (Erbil Province) – The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) revealed that a separate drone strike had occurred the night before, on July 14, targeting the Khurmala field.

The MNR condemned the attacks as "acts of terrorism" against the region’s economic lifeline, stressing the importance of protecting energy infrastructure.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the strikes, which mark a dangerous escalation in assaults on the KRI’s oil sector. Both the Sarsang and Khurmala fields are crucial to the region’s oil production, hosting domestic and international operators.

The U.S. Embassy stressed the need for swift action, stating: "We urge the Government of Iraq to investigate who is behind these attacks and hold them accountable."