Following a drone strike on the Khor Mor gas field located in Sulaimani province on November 8, 2026, electricity generation dropped significantly across Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, resulting in widespread power outages that affected over 70 percent of the area.
The assault on Sunday night completely halted gas flows from the critical energy facility, causing a severe deficit of between 2,500 and 2,800 megawatts in the local power grid, as confirmed by the regional Ministry of Electricity.
What caused the power failure?
The disruption stemmed from the sudden halt in gas supplies following the explosion at the Khor Mor facility, which forced power stations across Erbil, Sulaimaniyah, Bazian, Chamchamal, and Duhok to shut down operations or drastically reduce output.
Omid Ahmed, the spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Electricity, disclosed that more than 70 percent of the entire Kurdish territory was plunged into darkness in the wake of the strike.
How are authorities responding to the crisis?
In response to the emergency, local energy officials mobilized alternative resources to keep critical infrastructure running. Ahmed noted that authorities quickly deployed hydroelectric power stations and switched to alternative fuel supplies to sustain electricity generation for essential public services, notably hospitals and water treatment facilities.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced that initial evaluations confirmed there were no casualties resulting from the explosion. The Prime Minister subsequently ordered a comprehensive joint investigation involving federal and Kurdish authorities to track down the perpetrators behind the assault.
As of yet, no faction or militant group has claimed responsibility for the strike. Security analysts are reviewing the incident to determine if it bears any connection to ongoing broader regional tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.