The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Friday called on the Iraqi federal government to prevent attacks against the civilian population of the Kurdistan Region, its economic infrastructure, and the oil and gas sector.

In a statement, the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources reported that an attack was carried out on Thursday by groups operating “outside the law” against the HKN oil field in Sarsang, Duhok Governorate. The attack reportedly caused damage to the field and led to the suspension of production.

The KRG Ministry of Natural Resources strongly denounced the “terrorist attack, which targets the economic infrastructure and wealth of the people of the Kurdistan Region.”

The KRG said that “responsibility for this attack also lies with the party that controls the areas from which such attacks are launched, thereby inflicting harm on the Kurdistan Region and on the revenues of all Iraq.”

In the past, Iranian-backed outlaw groups have carried out attacks on Kurdish energy infrastructure, leading to casualties.

On February 28, five oil companies stopped their production in the Kurdistan Region, fearing strikes by these armed groups.

On Wednesday, UAE-based energy company Dana Gas announced that it had temporarily suspended production operations at the Khor Mor gas field amid ongoing attacks by Iran and Iranian-backed armed groups.