Iraq briefly suspended oil loading operations at the Basra Oil Terminal on Thursday after a drone struck an oil tanker near the terminal, according to Iraqi oil and security sources. Operations resumed shortly afterward following assessments that confirmed there was no significant damage.

The Iraqi Ministry of Oil denied reports that crude exports from the country's southern ports had been halted, emphasizing that loading operations continued as normal. The ministry stated that an investigation found the incident involved a tanker reporting the presence of a foreign object nearby, with no fire or damage to the vessel.

Ali Nazar, head of Iraq's State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO), said the incident was not a direct attack on the Basra Oil Terminal or vessels operating there. He explained that oil loading continued at normal rates, subject only to vessel availability.

As a precaution, the affected tanker and another vessel anchored nearby were towed outside the port. Authorities have not identified who launched the drone, and investigations are ongoing.

The incident follows another drone event on Wednesday, when an unmanned aircraft came down in Iraq's Faw Port without causing damage or disrupting operations.

Khor Mor Gas Field Suspends Production

In a separate development, Dana Gas announced the temporary shutdown of the main production facilities at the Khor Mor gas field in the Kurdistan Region due to credible security threats and escalating regional tensions.

The Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Electricity reported that the suspension has reduced gas supplies to power stations by approximately 2,500 megawatts, affecting electricity generation across the region. The ministry described the disruption as temporary and said efforts are underway to restore gas supplies as soon as conditions permit.

Regional Tensions Continue to Impact Energy Sector

The recent incidents come amid heightened regional instability, which has continued to affect Iraq's energy sector. The conflict involving Iran has disrupted oil exports from Iraq's southern terminals due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Iraqi Oil Minister Basim Mohammed, Iraq exported approximately 10 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz in April, a sharp decline from the monthly average of around 93 million barrels before the conflict. Total oil exports in June reached approximately 24.5 million barrels.

To mitigate export challenges, Iraq has continued shipping crude through the Kirkuk–Ceyhan pipeline via Turkey and is also pursuing export routes through Syria.