May 07:
STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images(BAYJI, Iraq) -- The U.S. has expressed some concern that ISIS militants may have control over the crucial Bayji oil refinery in Iraq.
Iraqi Security Forces have been holding out within the refinery for months. The Pentagon, however, said Wednesday ISIS had taken control of parts of the refinery. Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren said that militants "have breached the perimeter" and had "control of some of the refinery."
"It's a tough fight, I don't know which way it's going to go," Warren admitted. "Right now it's falling in the wrong direction, but it could still turn around." At least five U.S.-led airstrikes have been conducted in the area in recent days in support of Iraqi forces.
Gen. Martin Dempsey explained the refinery's importance, calling it "part of the Iraqi oil infrastructure."
"Once the Iraqis have full control of Bayji, they will control all of their oil infrastructure, both North and South, and deny [ISIS] the ability to generate revenue through oil," Dempsey told reporters last week.
Warren also noted Wednesday that the refinery is "an avenue of approach into Mosul."
Source: http://abcnewsradioonline.com/world-news/isis-militants-in-control-of-some-of-key-oil-refinery.html?
STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images(BAYJI, Iraq) -- The U.S. has expressed some concern that ISIS militants may have control over the crucial Bayji oil refinery in Iraq.Iraqi Security Forces have been holding out within the refinery for months. The Pentagon, however, said Wednesday ISIS had taken control of parts of the refinery. Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren said that militants "have breached the perimeter" and had "control of some of the refinery."
"It's a tough fight, I don't know which way it's going to go," Warren admitted. "Right now it's falling in the wrong direction, but it could still turn around." At least five U.S.-led airstrikes have been conducted in the area in recent days in support of Iraqi forces.
Gen. Martin Dempsey explained the refinery's importance, calling it "part of the Iraqi oil infrastructure."
"Once the Iraqis have full control of Bayji, they will control all of their oil infrastructure, both North and South, and deny [ISIS] the ability to generate revenue through oil," Dempsey told reporters last week.
Warren also noted Wednesday that the refinery is "an avenue of approach into Mosul."
Source: http://abcnewsradioonline.com/world-news/isis-militants-in-control-of-some-of-key-oil-refinery.html?
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