Detonations at two wells early Wednesday are the latest example of inadequate security across northern Iraq.
Field is not under threat. Decision by Gazprom Neft protects 100-plus daily tanker trucks exporting the crude.
The coalition's decision to remove the Iraqi Air Force from air tasking orders highlights ongoing failures to address the dysfunction and corruption that have crippled a multi-billion-dollar fleet of fighter jets.
An attack near the Swara Tika and Atrush oil fields comes a week after a pipeline explosion blamed on the PKK, and as Turkey pressures leaders in Erbil and Baghdad to confront the guerrilla group.
Worsening tensions between Erbil, Ankara, and the Kurdish guerrilla group raise the risk of renewed threats to the KRG's only oil export route.
Repairs of gas pipeline explosion 10 days ago identified additional problems, causing delays to electricity feedstocks.
The Sept. 30 rocket attack near the Erbil airport highlights the reach of rogue militant groups and the risks they pose to the investment climate in both federal Iraq and Kurdistan.
Strong commercial ties were at the center of the U.S.-Iraq strategic dialogue. Now, with a threat to close its Baghdad embassy, the U.S. is casting doubt on the future of the bilateral relationship.
In the fight against a persistent insurgency, long-delayed efforts to improve coordination between Kurdish Peshmerga and federal security forces could be key.
Power struggles between factionalized security forces in northern Iraq have left security gaps that insurgents continue to exploit.
