Three oilfields fall back to Iraq army: Report
Takfiri terrorists of the ISIL have lost control over "at least three large oilfields" in Iraq where the army is carrying out operations to expel the militants, a report says.
German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung made the announcement on Thursday, citing German federal intelligence services.
Now, the militants have only "five percent" of the extraction capabilities across the country, the paper said in reference to Baghdad’s biggest victory on the heels of the liberation of the city of Tikrit over a week ago.
The ISIL has lost "at least three large oilfields", the daily said, adding that satellite images from last month show the militants set fire to two of them -- the Himrin and Ajil fields -- in the face of the advancing counteroffensive against the Takfiris.
"In the eyes of the BND (German foreign intelligence agency Bundesnachrichtendienst), that is proof that ISIL itself does not believe in a quick recapture (of lost territory)," the newspaper said.
The report added that the militants currently control the northern Qayara oilfield, which produces no more than 2,000 barrels a day.
The new gain by the Iraqi army means the terrorists "can hardly sell oil anymore".
The terrorist group relies on the oil in Iraq and Syria as a source of income among other things, including the smuggling of antiques out of the two countries.
The ISIL militants, with members from several Western countries, control parts of Syria and Iraq, and have been carrying out horrific acts of violence such as public decapitations and crucifixions against all ethnic and religious communities.
Iraqi soldiers, police units, Kurdish forces, Shia fighters and Sunni tribesmen have recently succeeded in driving the terrorists out of some areas in Iraq.
NT/AS/MHB
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