Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Islamist Militants Launch Assault On Iraq's Largest Oil Refinery


Isis Fighters attack Iraq's Biggest Oil Refinery -- The Guardian

Islamist militants launch assault in Baiji as Iran raises prospect of military intervention

Islamist militants have attacked Iraq's largest oil refinery in the city of Baiji, 155 miles north of Baghdad, as Iran raised the prospect of direct military intervention to protect Shia holy sites.

A top security official told the Associated Press that fighters of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis) had begun their attack on the refinery late on Tuesday night. The attack continued into Wednesday morning, with militants targeting it with mortar shells, starting a small fire on the periphery.

The refinery accounts for more than a quarter of the country's entire refining capacity, all of which goes toward domestic consumption – petrol, cooking oil and fuel for power stations. At the height of the insurgency from 2004 to late 2007, the Baiji refinery was under the control of Sunni militants who used to siphon off crude and petroleum products to finance their operations. Isis has used its control of oilfields in Syria to boost its coffers.

Read more ....

More News On ISIS Militants Launching An Assault On Iraq's Largest Oil Refinery

Militants fail to claim Iraq's biggest refinery -- CBS/AP
Iraq says its forces repel insurgent attack on Baiji oil refinery -- Washington Post
Iraq crisis: Militants driven back from nation's main oil refinery, military says -- CNN
Iraqi Government Forces Battle for Control of Major Oil Refinery -- Wall Street Journal
ISIL Battles Elite Iraq Troops for Nation’s Biggest Refinery -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Extremists Said to Take Control of Iraq’s Biggest Oil Refinery -- New York Times
Sunni militants control '75 percent' of Iraq's Baiji refinery: official -- Reuters
Iraq crisis: Battle grips vital Baiji oil refinery -- BBC
Militants Attack Iraq's Largest Oil Refinery -- AP

My Comment: There are conflicting reports on who is "winning" this battle. I will update as more reports become available.

No comments:

Post a Comment