Arabic version: إقليم كردستان يواجه تداعيات حرب متفاقمة

According to Al Jazeera, Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region has faced heavy security and economic repercussions during the United States-Israel war on Iran, which began in February. Kurdish authorities say hundreds of missiles and drones have struck the region, despite efforts by the Kurdistan Regional Government, or KRG, to avoid becoming a party to the conflict.

KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said the region had been targeted more than 1,000 times by missiles and drones launched directly from Iran or from inside Iraq by militias. He said there had been casualties, loss of life and serious damage to infrastructure. KRG data says military and security sites, energy facilities, headquarters of Iranian Kurdish opposition parties and civilian areas have been hit.

The conflict has also damaged trade, investment and energy activity. Barzani said trade across the Kurdish region had fallen by 70 percent. KRG spokesman Peshawa Hawramani said losses through April were estimated at 1.5 trillion Iraqi dinars, or $1.14bn, and that the figures had been submitted to Iraq’s federal government.

Kurdish authorities say they have provided Baghdad with the names of armed factions they blame for attacks, but Hawramani said no action had been taken. Security expert Jabbar Yawar said armed groups operating outside the law were creating security problems, adding that the KRG and Iraqi government lacked comprehensive air defence systems.

Economic pressure has intensified after Iraq declared force majeure on oilfields developed by foreign companies, citing disruptions to navigation through the Strait of Hormuz that halted most crude exports. Economy researcher Aland Kareem Salih said production under an agreement to export 200,000 barrels of oil daily had fallen to 30,000 barrels, while non-oil revenues had dropped by about 70 percent. He also said the Khor Mor gasfield halted operations after Iranian bombardment, affecting electricity in the region.