Mesrur Barzani: We won't back down against attempts to divide Kurdistan Region
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Mesrur Barzani called for the swift identification of those who struck the Khor Mor gas field. He also urged the Kurdish public to stand united against attempts to divide the region.
RastinewsKurdistan Region Prime Minister Mesrur Barzani said the attack on the Khor Mor gas field and the region's electricity infrastructure was a crime against the Kurdish people and all of Iraq.
Barzani spoke at the opening ceremony of the second phase of the Green Belt Project in Hewlêr. He said a "black hand" seeking to destroy Kurdistan's infrastructure was behind the attack.
Addressing the commissions investigating the attack, Barzani called for the perpetrators and the forces directing them to be identified and brought to justice as soon as possible. He said the Kurdistan Regional Government was ready to support the investigation and remained in constant contact with Iraq's federal government.
"We will stand against attempts to divide Kurdistan"
Barzani said preserving the Kurdistan Region's existence and developing it was a national duty. He stressed that they would not back down against attempts to divide or weaken the region.
He recalled that past Iraqi governments pursued policies to shrink Kurdistan's borders and alter its demographic makeup. He said similar attempts today must be resisted as well. Barzani gave no details on who was behind such attempts.
1.8 million saplings
Under the second phase of the Green Belt Project, 1.8 million saplings will be planted around Hewlêr. Barzani said Peshmerga forces joined volunteers in the planting effort. Some of the saplings are fruit trees. Barzani also said olive oil factories could be built in the region in the future.
No claim of responsibility
The Khor Mor field in Chamchamal, in Sulaymaniyah province, was struck on the night of November 8 in an attack believed to have involved drones. A fire broke out at the Kurdistan Region's largest gas field, halting production.
According to 964media, the attack cut roughly 3,000 megawatts from the region's power grid, leaving parts of Hewlêr, Duhok and Zakho without electricity. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani ordered a joint investigation with Kurdistan Region officials after the attack. Sudani and Mesrur Barzani met in Baghdad the following day.
Khor Mor had been targeted repeatedly before. A rocket attack on the field in November 2025 caused widespread power outages in the region.