ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraqi military forces in a joint operation with Hashd al-Shaabi Shiite militias have regained total control over the oil-rich city of Baiji, according to a military source.
An Iraqi army officer, who asked to remain anonymous, told Rudaw that after a series of fierce clashes with ISIS militants Iraqi military forces finally regained control of Baiji Tuesday night. He added that ISIS militants withdrew from the town and fled north.
On June 7, Shiite militants of Hashd al-Shaabi managed to enter Baiji, located in Iraq’s Salahadin province, but they failed to retake control of all parts of the town from ISIS militants.
The Baiji oil refinery, Iraq’s largest oil facility, has been the scene of intense fighting for many weeks. It was partially overtaken by ISIS fighters during heavy fighting last month. The military source did not mention fresh fighting at the refinery specifically, but did say the military was approaching the site.
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