Home / War and Conflict / Shetland Man's Drone Escape in Iraq
Shetland Man's Drone Escape in Iraq
14 Mar
Summary
- A drone landed 100m from accommodation but did not explode.
- Hundreds of workers evacuated from oil field near Basra.
- The worker returned to Scotland after a harrowing journey.
A Shetland man has recounted his harrowing escape from an Iraqi oil field targeted by Iranian drones. Ross Slater, 44, was working near Basra when a drone landed approximately 100 meters from his accommodation, miraculously failing to explode. This incident led to the evacuation of hundreds of workers from the facility.
Slater described the unnerving experience, noting that a second drone also failed to detonate. He and other workers received information suggesting oil fields were not targets, making the attacks a surreal and frightening surprise. The lack of an alarm following the first strike heightened the tension.
After spending three years in Iraq, Slater embarked on a challenging three-day journey home, passing through Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Amsterdam before reaching Scotland. The incident has led to the suspension of most production at the oil field, which significantly contributes to Iraq's oil-based economy.
