BAGHDAD, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Iraq has resumed loading and exporting gas condensate shipments from Basrah Gas Company after a forced halt caused by the recent regional conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Iraq's official al-Sabah newspaper reported Tuesday.

Citing Iraqi Deputy Oil Minister for Gas Affairs Izzat Saber Ismail, the newspaper said the company successfully completed loading 50,000 cubic meters of condensates onto tanker "Dakosh," which departed Tuesday after completing technical and logistical procedures.

The suspension followed the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel-Iran war in late February and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which most Gulf oil exports pass. The disruption forced Iraq to gradually halt production and exports from its southern oilfields in March.

Basrah Gas Company is majority-owned by the Iraqi government through the South Gas Company, with private partners Shell and Mitsubishi holding the remaining stakes. It announced a gradual suspension of production and exports beginning March 3. ■