ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Iraqi army has sent a military force to Baiji and an Iraqi security source announced Tuesday the main reason for the deployment is a pending military campaign to retake the town of Shargat, which fell to ISIS in June 2014.
“[Shargat] is considered the last ISIS stronghold in Salahadin province,” the unnamed source said.
The source said some of the forces arrived in Baiji on Monday, and others arrived on Tuesday with types of heavy weapons believed to be used for the first time against the self-claimed Islamic State. They added ISIS would not attempt to fight in Shargat as its fighters have been asked to assist Mosul.
Baiji, located in Salahadin province roughly 210 kilometers (130 miles) north of Baghdad, fell to ISIS in 2014. The city’s oil refinery is said to be the largest in Iraq and vital for the national economy.
The government has claimed victory in Baiji several times in the past months, but ISIS suicide attacks have halted the advances of Iraqi forces.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Iraqi army has sent a military force to Baiji and an Iraqi security source announced Tuesday the main reason for the deployment is a pending military campaign to retake the town of Shargat, which fell to ISIS in June 2014.
“[Shargat] is considered the last ISIS stronghold in Salahadin province,” the unnamed source said.
The source said some of the forces arrived in Baiji on Monday, and others arrived on Tuesday with types of heavy weapons believed to be used for the first time against the self-claimed Islamic State. They added ISIS would not attempt to fight in Shargat as its fighters have been asked to assist Mosul.
Baiji, located in Salahadin province roughly 210 kilometers (130 miles) north of Baghdad, fell to ISIS in 2014. The city’s oil refinery is said to be the largest in Iraq and vital for the national economy.
The government has claimed victory in Baiji several times in the past months, but ISIS suicide attacks have halted the advances of Iraqi forces.
