ISIS controls 80% of Baiji refinery in Salahuddin province, says US official

(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad- US official stressed on Thursday ISIS control over 80% of Baiji refinery in Salahuddin province, while considered that the situation in the refinery  as “very worrying”, pointing out that the international coalition did not target ISIS elements within the oil facility in order to maintain the infrastructure.

“CNN” quoted the official, who asked to remain anonymous, as saying, “The Iraqi army controls only 20% of Baiji oil refinery, while ISIS has controlled 80%,” noting that, “the latter was able during few days to penetrate areas within the refinery, preventing supply lines of the Iraqi army. ”

“the situation on the ground in Baiji refinery is very worrying; the Iraqi army has suffered numerous losses,” pointing out that “the American aviation has bombed ISIS sites around the refinery and supply routes, but it has not targeted ISIS elements inside the refinery so as to save the infrastructure, ” the official added.