U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce in a statement on Thursday strongly condemned the drone attacks that have targeted oil fields in the Kurdistan Region since July.

“These attacks imperil Iraq’s stability and economic future. The government of Iraq has a duty to protect its territory and all of its citizens,” she said.

“These strikes target international companies that are working with Iraq to invest in Iraq’s future. The United States remains committed to our partners across Iraq who are working to build a stable, federal, and sovereign state.

Condemning Recent Drone Attacks in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region https://t.co/oxYYPztN0L

— U.S. State Dept - Near Eastern Affairs (@StateDept_NEA) July 16, 2025

Moreover, Bruce told reporters on Wednesday that the drone attacks on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq are unacceptable.

“We have been vocal regarding actions that have happened with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region,” she said. “We’ve made it clear that we expect Iraq to withdraw certain dynamics that they apply to the Kurds when it comes to issues of salaries and oil distribution.

“Of course, these kinds of attacks in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq are unacceptable. We’ve expressed our dismay and our problem with them.”

Since July 14, five oil fields have been hit in recent drone attacks, including two operated by U.S. companies, resulting in the loss of nearly 200,000 barrels of oil production.

Moreover, on early Thursday morning a drone was shot down in Erbil.

The Kurdistan Regional Government has blamed militias for the attacks.

The Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan, which represents several international oil companies in the Kurdistan Region, confirmed that as a result of the attacks the majority of oil companies have suspended production.

Earlier on Tuesday, the United States also condemned the attacks and called on the Iraqi federal government to “prevent armed actors from launching these attacks against sites within its own territory.”