Finance
DNO and Dana Gas halt Kurdistan output after U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 1, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 1, 2026
Quick Summary
DNO and Dana Gas temporarily halted operations at their Kurdistan oil and gas fields on February 28, 2026, as a precaution following joint U.S.–Israel airstrikes on Iran. The move reflects heightened regional security risks amid escalating conflict.
DNO and Dana Gas Suspend Kurdistan Oil Production After US-Israel Strikes on Iran
By Nerijus Adomaitis and Maha El Dahan
Oil and Gas Production Suspended in Kurdistan Following Regional Strikes
Precautionary Shutdowns by DNO and Dana Gas
OSLO/DUBAI, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Oslo-listed DNO and Dubai-listed Dana Gas shut oil and gas production at their respective fields in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, as a precaution, after the United States and Israel launched strikes on neighbouring Iran.
Background of Previous Attacks on Facilities
Last year, production facilities at both the Tawke oilfield and Khorm Mor gas field were attacked.
No group claimed responsibility, but an Iraqi government source told Reuters at the time that pro-Iranian militia were suspected.
Company Statements and Safety Measures
"Today, as a precautionary measure, we temporarily stopped operations and moved our people to safe locations," DNO Executive Chairman Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani told Reuters.
He added that the company had been preparing for "a possibility of overhead military operations in the region for the last couple of weeks".
Production Figures and Field Locations
DNO and its partner Genel Energy produced over 77,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) in the fourth quarter of 2025 at their Tawke and Peshkabir fields, situated close to the border with Turkey.
Similarly, production at the Dana Gas-operated Khorm Mor gas field was shut on Saturday as a precautionary measure, a company source told Reuters.
Iraq's oil exports from the Kurdistan region totalled 200,000 bpd in February.
Security Situation in Iraqi Kurdistan
Rocket and Drone Attacks Near Erbil
Iraqi Kurdistan's counter-terrorism service said U.S.-led coalition forces intercepted several rockets and drones over the regional capital of Erbil on Saturday, the Iraqi news agency reported.
Security officials told Reuters the attacks targeted U.S. forces stationed near Erbil airport.
(Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis in Oslo and Maha El Dahan in Dubai, editing by Gwladys Fouche and Louise Heavens)
Key Takeaways
- •DNO (Oslo‑listed) shut operations at its Tawke and Peshkabir fields, relocating staff after preparing for possible military threats; these sites had been attacked by pro‑Iranian militia last year (worldenergynews.com)
- •Dana Gas (Dubai‑listed) suspended production at the Khorm Mor gas field as a precaution; the move aligns with regional export dynamics, with Kurdistan exports reaching ~200,000 bpd in February (worldenergynews.com)
- •Global oil markets are under pressure: Brent jumped toward $73–$74, with analysts warning prices could hit $80 or higher amid disruptions, especially if the Strait of Hormuz is threatened (lemonde.fr)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about DNO and Dana Gas halt Kurdistan output after U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran
1Why did DNO and Dana Gas halt production in Kurdistan?
DNO and Dana Gas halted oil and gas production in Kurdistan as a precaution after US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, raising regional security concerns.
2Which oil and gas fields were affected by the shutdown?
The Tawke oilfield operated by DNO and Khorm Mor gas field operated by Dana Gas were affected by the shutdown.
3How much oil production is typically reported in the region?
DNO and its partner produced over 77,000 barrels of oil per day in Q4 2025; Kurdistan's total oil exports were 200,000 bpd in February.
4What triggered concerns for security in the region?
The US-Israel strikes on Iran, and previous attacks on oil production facilities, triggered the precautionary halts and security concerns.
5Were there recent attacks near Erbil related to these events?
Yes, coalition forces intercepted rockets and drones over Erbil, with attacks targeting US forces near Erbil airport.
