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Drone strike ignites fire at Lanaz refinery in Erbil — Iranian-linked attack on Iraqi Kurdistan

·Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan

A drone strike caused a fire at the Lanaz gas refinery in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, halting operations. Confirmed by Reuters/JPost. The attack follows previous Iranian drone strikes on French troops stationed in Erbil (Day 13-14). The refinery is a key energy facility in Kurdistan. Iranian proxies have repeatedly targeted US coalition logistics and energy infrastructure in Iraq.

A drone strike caused a fire at the Lanaz gas refinery in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan on March 15, 2026 (Day 16), halting refinery operations. The attack was confirmed by Reuters and reported in The Jerusalem Post. Flames were visible at the refinery complex. Erbil has been repeatedly targeted by Iranian drones throughout the conflict — French troops in Erbil were struck on Day 13, killing CWO Arnaud Frion. The Lanaz refinery strike follows a pattern of Iranian proxy attacks on energy and logistics infrastructure in Iraq aimed at raising costs for the US-led coalition and destabilizing Kurdistan, which hosts the Erbil coalition base. No casualties were immediately reported from the refinery fire.

Actor responses

IranOPPOSINGRESPONSE

Iranian-allied forces targeted the Erbil refinery as part of ongoing strikes against US coalition infrastructure in Iraq. Energy facilities supporting the occupation are valid targets.

United StatesNEUTRALRESPONSE

The US condemns the drone strike on the Erbil refinery. US forces in Iraq and Kurdish authorities are assessing the situation. Iranian proxy attacks on civilian infrastructure are unacceptable.