Iraq army, volunteers regain control of two oil fields

Iraqi armed forces backed by volunteers have regained control of two oil fields in the northern part of the country months after the ISIL terrorists seized the facilities.

Iraqi security sources said that the government troops backed by Shia and Sunni volunteer fighters on Monday took control of the Alas oilfields, located northeast of Tikrit, the provincial capital of Salahuddin province, Iraqi news website Nahrain Net reported.

At least 260 ISIL terrorists are reported to have been killed during the fierce fighting in the militancy-riddled region.

The report also cited a senior commander from popular mobilization forces as saying that the Iraqi forces also recaptured on Sunday the Ajil oilfield from the ISIL, located 35km (22 miles) northeast of the city of Tikrit. More than seventy terrorists were killed during a series of violent clashes in the troubled region.

The commander also noted the al-Rashad and al-Riyadh areas of Kirkuk Province were being fully controlled by the Iraqi armed forces.

The ISIL terrorists had seized control of both oil fields in June last year. The facilities were producing thousands of barrels per day before the ISIL attack.

It was reportedly set on fire by the ISIL terrorist group to provide cover from air strikes during the military operation by Iraqi forces to retake the city in mid march.

Control of oil fields has always been an ISIL hallmark, even when its militants lack the technical expertise to operate them at full capacity.

The Takfiri terrorists have captured several oilfields in Iraq and neighboring Syria. They use revenues from illegal oil sales to fund their terrorist activities.

ISIL launched an offensive in Iraq in June last year and took control of Mosul, the country’s second-largest city, before sweeping through parts of the country’s heartland.

The terrorists have committed heinous crimes and threatened all communities, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, and Christians during their advances in Iraq.