Iraq Launches Probe into Gas Complex Attack, Triggering Widespread Power Cuts

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Iraq's caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has ordered an investigation into a recent attack on the Emirati-owned Khor Mor gas complex in the autonomous Kurdistan region. The bombing, which occurred in the middle of the week, has disrupted gas supplies and led to widespread power cuts across the region. The Khor Mor complex, which supplies most of Kurdistan's power stations, has been targeted several times in the past few years. The latest attack, which involved a drone strike, has left 80% of the region's power grid offline, with authorities estimating that electricity may be restored within 48 hours if the damage is limited to one storage tank. The Iraqi government has accused 'terrorist groups' of attempting to undermine the country's stability. In a statement, military spokesman Sabah al-Numan confirmed that the government had formed a high-level investigative committee to look into the attack. Regional authorities have previously accused Iran-backed armed groups of conducting similar attacks in the region. The United States has long pressured Iraq to disarm these groups and free itself from Iranian interference. The US special envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, has condemned the attack, stating that 'armed groups operating illegally and driven by hostile foreign agendas' have no place in a fully sovereign Iraq. Regional Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has called on the US to provide the region with defensive equipment. Iraq has only recently regained a sense of normalcy after decades of war and turmoil, but the country still frequently suffers from such attacks. The latest incident has highlighted the ongoing security challenges facing Iraq and the need for a comprehensive solution to counter the threat posed by armed groups.