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 in one week in the region, raising concerns about ongoing security challenges and regional stability.

According to Deutsche Welle, the latest attacks followed a drone strike on Tuesday on the Sarsang field, which led to a halt in production. The Sarsang field is operated by the American firm HKN Energy. Earlier in the week, similar strikes hit the Khurmala field on Monday, and a drone was intercepted near Erbil airport.

While no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, initial investigations by Iraqi Kurdistan security sources suggest that regions controlled by Iran-backed militias could be the origin of the drones. These security sources link the attacks to regional proxy struggles between Iran and the United States, along with its ally Israel.

The ongoing drone strikes occur amidst rising tensions between the central government in Baghdad and Kurdistan authorities over oil exports and a stalled pipeline to Turkey. Iran is known to support Shiite Muslim militant groups in Iraq, such as Kataib Hezbollah, which further complicates the geopolitical situation in the region.

As the damage assessment continues, the affected company, DNO, anticipates restarting production once the evaluation is complete. The strikes underscore the fragility of the region’s security and the broader implications for international relations and energy markets.