Islamic militants with the terror group ISIL launched a massive attack on Iraq’s largest oil refinery, threatening the future of the one of the country’s primary energy feeds.
The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant shot off mortar rounds into the Beiji refinery, located about 155 miles north of Baghdad, igniting a small fire on the grounds, one security official told NBC News.
The refinery, the nation’s largest, provides more than a quarter of the country’s refined oil, which is used to power vehicles, fuel power grids and even cook meals. The ISIL attack is likely to lead to long lines at the gas pump and to electricity outages, NBC News said.
ISIL is presently marching on Baghdad, trying to win the stronghold city, and has launched the bloodiest attack since American troops withdrew from the nation.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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