Rebels claim to control largest oil refinery in Iraq

The jihadists claim to have taken full control of the largest oil refinery in Iraq, in Baiji, north of Baghdad. The information is confusing. A “reliable source” has assured the journalist Richard Galpin BBC that there are about 160 militants inside while the New York Times reporter, CJ Chivers, who accompanied Kerry on this tour, said that the fighting in the refinery vicinity continue. Agence France Presse says that at least 19 dead. The plant had 10 days under siege by rebels of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), reports the BBC. Meanwhile, Secretary of State of the United States, John Kerry, began its second day of meetings with the Kurdish authorities in Erbil, capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. After meeting Monday with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad, Kerry has meeting with Kurdish President Massoud Barzani. “This is a new Iraq and we are facing a new reality,” Barzani said during the meeting.

In the past two weeks, Sunni insurgents have invaded a strip of territory in the north and west to five provinces, including the second largest city, Mosul, and have taken control of border crossings to Syria and Jordan. The Baiji refinery in the province of Saladin, supplies a third of the fuel refined from Iraq and the battle with the jihadists, the besieged maintained since early this month has led to gasoline rationing across the north. The UN says more than 1,000 civilians have died since the beginning of the month and as many wounded.

ISIL spokesman said that the control of the refinery will be delivered to the local tribes to take charge of its management and Jihadists will continue advancing toward Baghdad. Foreigners working in the city were evacuated last suspecting Iraqi security forces that the oil refinery was one of the objectives of the Islamist group week.

The Secretary of State U.S. promised to keep an “intense and sustained support ” Iraq after meeting Monday with several politicians in Baghdad. Kerry said the attacks by ISIL are a threat to the existence of Iraq and the coming days and weeks ” will be crucial.” On Monday he met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and discussed with key leaders, both Sunni and Shia to promote a unity government between the different religious and ethnic factions that characterize the country (Sunni, Shia and Kurds). “Iraq has collapsed and it is obvious that the federal or central government has lost control of absolutely everything,” insisted Tuesday the Kurdish leader.

In fact the Iraqi system, a Kurd has traditionally held the presidency, a Shiite Arab has been the prime minister and a Sunni Arab was the spokesman in Parliament.

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Posted by Khalil Khan on Jun 24 2014. Filed under Middle East. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.