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Security

Basra tanker attack marks deepening crisis for Iraq oil sector

Iraq is facing a widening array of security threats and economic consequences from the Iran war.
Iraqi ports director Farhan al-Fartousi (right) conducts an inspection on March 12, 2026, of the site of an Iranian attack on oil tankers the previous night. (Photo credit: General Company for Ports of Iraq)

Suicide bombs hit oil heartland

Attacks in Basra and Dhi Qar highlight the IS group's determination to use asymmetric tactics to strike southern Iraq, despite losses in the north.