Two children killed in oil pipeline explosion in southern Iraq
Two children have been killed after a blast struck a pipeline in southern Iraq, authorities said.
An investigation had been launched into the latest explosion in Muthanna province, south of Baghdad, that killed "two children and wounded 28 people," state media said.
The southern attack came days after a blast in the north this week which, according to a statement by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) released late on Friday, forced the closure of another pipeline.
The statement said oil exports had been suspended after "terrorists" attacked the pipeline crossing the autonomous region to the Turkish port of Ceyhan on Wednesday evening.
It did not specify on whose territory the explosion took place nor who might have been behind it.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
Iraq Oil Report on Saturday said that the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was suspected of being behind the attack.
The pipeline built by the Kurds has a capacity of 600,000 barrels per day, but exports of oil under their control currently averages 300,000 bpd as demanded by Opec.
Nearly 90 percent of the Iraqi government's budget comes from oil revenues.
Like Turkey, the autonomous KRG considers the PKK, which has bases in the region, as a "terrorist" organisation.
Tensions have been increasing in recent months between the KRG and PKK, with the latter accusing the KRG of collaborating with Turkey to target the group in Iraq.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
