ISIL take hold of Iraq's largest refinery
- 10 years ago
This smoke is coming from the Baiji refinery, some 130 miles north of Baghdad, in this video posted to a social media website whose content Reuters cannot independently confirm.
An official at the refinery, which is Iraq's largest, says Sunni militants are now in control --- after fierce clashes with government soldiers earlier. They say at least 75% of the refinery --- namely the production units, administration building, and four watch towers are in their hands.
In Baghdad, heavily armed counter terrorism troops fanned out across the capital. They're manning checkpoints and searching vehicles. U.S. Special forces have started a month of training for Iraqi troops in Jordan --- they're the second group to go through the latest U.S. counter-terrorism training program.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki blamed the turmoil that has gripped his country for the past week on Saudi Arabia and Qatar, accusing the countries of supporting militants from ISIL which is short for the I
An official at the refinery, which is Iraq's largest, says Sunni militants are now in control --- after fierce clashes with government soldiers earlier. They say at least 75% of the refinery --- namely the production units, administration building, and four watch towers are in their hands.
In Baghdad, heavily armed counter terrorism troops fanned out across the capital. They're manning checkpoints and searching vehicles. U.S. Special forces have started a month of training for Iraqi troops in Jordan --- they're the second group to go through the latest U.S. counter-terrorism training program.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki blamed the turmoil that has gripped his country for the past week on Saudi Arabia and Qatar, accusing the countries of supporting militants from ISIL which is short for the I