Protesters are threatening to shut down the Nassiriya field, and deadly violence has caused one American company to suspend oil operations in the province.
After more than a month, the border has reopened for both trade and humanitarian traffic, alleviating economic pressure on a U.S. ally in the counter-IS fight.
The temporary outage had no apparent impact on oil field operations or export volumes, but the cause of the incident is a matter of uncertainty and potential concern.
Despite the presence of a security protection team, an armed gang attacked a convoy carrying international oil workers to the Basra airport.
The closure blocks a major source of funding for the Rojava administration, a U.S. ally in the fight against IS.
As Iraq begins to suffer the intensifying effects of climate change, competition for water threatens to spark conflict.
In a single week, deadly insurgent operations near the Khurmala, Avana, Bai Hassan, and Sarqala oil fields showcase IS's firepower and persistence.
Demonstrators have blocked highways and picketed government buildings in Sulaimaniya and Erbil, demanding a further unwinding of government austerity measures.
Unprecedented droughts are drying up farm land, driving migration to cities, and compounding economic hardships and instability.
Fears over cyclical violence following an Islamic State attack near the Mansuriya gas field in Diyala province has driven substantial civilian displacement.
