Oil Fields and Airports in Iraq Hit by Drones
Drone attacks again rocked Iraq on Friday (6 March) local time. Several airports and oil facilities were targeted.
An Iraqi security official said Baghdad International Airport, which also houses a U.S. military base and diplomatic facilities, was struck by a series of drones and missiles on Friday night. Another security source confirmed the drone attacks that sparked a fire in the airport area.
Earlier, Iraqi authorities reported several rockets fired toward the airport from the Abu Ghraib area near Baghdad. Security forces later confiscated a vehicle that was still carrying unexploded rockets. Attacks also occurred in Basra province in southern Iraq, where an oil complex hosting foreign energy companies was targeted twice.
An Iraqi security official in Basra said two drones were shot down over the Burjesia oil complex. One drone, however, managed to hit the facility. Previously, the complex was also targeted along with other oil fields and Basra Airport.
For years, Iraq has been an arena of influence competition between the United States and Iran. The Baghdad government says it does not wish to be drawn into the Iran–US dispute. Yet the country remains affected from the conflict’s early days.
Some attacks linked to the United States and Israel previously targeted pro-Iranian armed groups in Iraq. Those groups said they would not remain neutral and claimed to have launched attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and surrounding areas.
The autonomous Kurdistan region in northern Iraq, where U.S. troops are stationed, is also frequently targeted. Explosions were heard around the airport in Erbil on Friday. Coalition forces led by the United States intercepted several drones in the air. Kurdish security forces said the international coalition downed four drones carrying explosives over Erbil.
Previously, the United States warned of possible attacks by pro-Iranian militias against hotels in Kurdistan that are often used by foreigners.
World oil prices jumped on Friday amid rising concerns of energy supply disruptions due to the Middle East conflict.
The United States is seen as lacking an adequate defence system to counter Iran’s Shahed drones.
Iran denied claims of closing the Hormuz Strait and accused the United States of violating international law after the sinking of the frigate Dena in the Indian Ocean that killed 100 sailors.
The United States is reported to have lost military equipment worth almost US$2 billion (around Rp33 trillion) during operations against Iran since Saturday (28 February).
Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Bank Indonesia affirmed its commitment to maintaining the rupiah’s exchange-rate stability.
Iran’s Press TV reported on Thursday (5 March) morning that the military targeted anti-Iran separatist forces, without naming the location of the attack.
Iran has attacked Kurdish groups in Iraq and closed the Hormuz Strait. Global oil supplies have plunged by about 90%, triggering shocks to the world economy amid the escalation of the Middle East conflict.
At least 10 countries are involved in operations ranging from drone attacks to invasions, often several times a year.
The United States has advised residents and mission personnel in Iraq to shelter due to threats from pro-Iran militias. Tensions have risen in Lebanon, with Israel striking Hizbullah targets in Beirut.
Air strikes hit the Jurf al-Sakher base in southern Iraq, killing two people. The attacks come amid the escalation of the US–Israel–Iran confrontation.