Basra: A fire broke out at an oil storage facility used by foreign companies in southern Iraq after a drone strike early Saturday, raising fresh concerns over the safety of energy infrastructure in the region.
The incident took place near the southern city of Basra, a key hub for Iraq’s oil industry. Security sources said the drone hit storage facilities operated by foreign firms, triggering a blaze that emergency teams rushed to control.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, and officials are still assessing the extent of the damage. Authorities have not yet identified who was behind the attack.
The strike is the latest in a series of drone incidents targeting oil and industrial sites across Iraq in recent weeks. Earlier attacks had disrupted operations in the northern Kurdistan region and caused concern among international energy companies working in the country.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the latest strike, such attacks have often been linked to armed groups operating in the region amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Iraq is one of the world’s major oil producers, and repeated attacks on its energy facilities have raised fears of supply disruptions and increased risks for foreign investments.
Officials said investigations are underway as efforts continue to secure key installations and prevent further incidents.