Iraqi army recaptures strategic city of Baiji
(Baonghean.vn)-On Friday, November 14, the Iraqi army announced that it had taken control of the entire Baiji - a city located near Iraq's largest oil refinery - from the hands of jihadists of the Islamic State organization IS.
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| In June, IS jihadists captured the city of Baiji in a series of lightning attacks and then laid siege to Iraq's largest oil refinery near the city. Photo: AP |
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Retaking Baiji would not only help Baghdad secure Iraq's largest oil refinery, but could also further isolate the jihadists in Tikrit. The Iraqi government said the refinery near Baiji has been under siege for months. Since June, the group has seized large swaths of territory north, east and west of Baghdad.
In October, Iraqi security forces, supported by militias and Sunni members allied with the government, launched operations to retake cities in southern Iraq. Security forces entered these cities on October 31. Starting in August, the US has conducted several airstrikes against IS positions in Iraq. These included strikes near the city of Baiji to help the Iraqi army retake the city. This is seen as part of the US campaign in the fight against the extremist Islamic terrorist organization IS.
A suicide bombing on the outskirts of Tikrit, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the city, killed at least four people, the Iraqi military said. Three suicide bombers and other extremists also carried out attacks in the city in late October to disrupt government military operations to retake the city of Baiji.
Chu Thanh
According to LeMonde November 14
