Tribal clashes in Iraq’s oil-rich Basra region are beginning to impact oil operations, Reuters reports.

While local officials indicated that oil output had remained steady, Reuters’ sources indicated local disturbances were beginning to impact operations.

“Tribal fighting near oilfields sites is definitely affecting the energy operations and sending a negative message to foreign oil firms,” a media manager for South Oil Co. (SOC), Abdullah El Faris told Reuters.

Fighting has been reported close to the West Qurna and Majnoon oilfields north of the city, Reuters reports.  Disputes over land and government contracts have recently been exacerbated by political tensions.

The former Basra governor, Majid al-Nasrawi, resigned his position and crossed the border into Iran last month under the cloud of a corruption investigation, Reuters reported at the time.