Politics

IS attacks Khabaza oil field in Kirkuk

The IS attack comes at a time when local media reports said Iraqi forces had abandoned some of their military posts in Kirkuk Province.

Baxtiyar Goran 2018/02/24 20:03

kurdistan Kurdistan Kirkuk Iraq Oil

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Islamic State (IS) extremists on Saturday launched an attack on an oil field in Kirkuk Province, killing at least two police officers.

A security source from Kirkuk said a group of IS militants attacked the Khabaza oil field in the disputed province, killing at least two police officers and wounding another one.

The security source added that police reinforcements were sent to the site of the attack but did not reveal whether any of the oil wells were also targeted by the militant group.

According to Iraq-based al-Ghad Press, the extremists attacked a post guarded by police at the Khabaza oil field’s number 43 well

Local media reports on Friday said federal police, who have been stationed in Kirkuk following last October’s attack on Peshmerga forces by the Iraqi army and Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shaabi militias, pulled out from the region amid reports of an imminent IS attack.

The Iraqi Defense Ministry later refuted the rumors in an official statement, noting their troops had not left their posts and continued to perform their duties.

Since the military takeover of Kirkuk and other disputed territories by Iraqi forces and Hashd al-Shaabi militias, the security situation in the region has deteriorated.

Kirkuk, where the Kurds form the majority of the population based on the latest elections results, is home to Arabs, Turkmen, and Christians as well.

The region was long considered a symbol of coexistence before October’s assault.

Editing Karzan Sulaivany