Iraqi forces have regained full control of the country's biggest oil refinery after heavy fighting with Sunni militants attempting to seize it, the authorities claim.
The retaking of the plant in Baiji, north of Baghdad, comes amid calls for the Iraqi prime minister Nouri al Maliki to quit as a condition of US help in driving back insurgents who have seized large swathes of the country.
And speaking on Sky News, Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned the government in Baghdad risked splitting the country unless it reached out to all groups.
The administration of Mr al Malaki has requested America launch airstrikes against the ISIS extremists, whose lightning offensive in the north of the country, including the capture of the city of Mosul, saw the US-bankrolled military crumble.
A member of the Iraqi security forces guards volunteer fighters in Baghdad The advance of the al Qaeda breakaway group has only been slowed by a regrouped army, Shia militias and other volunteers.
Washington has not yet responded to the Iraqi request for drone strikes.
Officials say action is not imminent, partly because intelligence agencies have been unable to identify clear targets on the ground.
Another potential obstacle to US military involvement is Mr al Maliki himself, who has been blamed for alienating Iraq's Sunni minority, leading to sectarian rifts, and contributing to the current crisis.
Several leading figures in Congress from across the political divide have spoken out against the premier.
David Petraeus has warned over the risks of the US providing air support Dianne Feinstein, the Democrat chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said: "The Maliki government, candidly, has got to go if you want any reconciliation."
Republican senator John McCain backed military support but urged Mr Obama to "make it make very clear to Maliki that his time is up".
Mr Rasmussen warned on Sky News: "Unless the government reaches out to other groups in Iraqi society, there's a clear risk that the country will be split."
And General David Petraeus, who led the US troop surge ahead of America pulling out of Iraq, says there should not even be air support without major change in Baghdad.
ISIS militants claim to have captured an airbase in Tal Afar 
The former CIA chief warned Washington risked becoming an "air force for Shiite militias", if it agreed to the request for support.
However, President Barack Obama has indicated he does not need authorisation from Congress to take any steps over action in Iraq.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Mr al Maliki said the country's leaders felt "abandoned", comparing the situation to the genocide in Rwanda, and "the Nazi occupation of Europe".
He insisted Mr al Maliki's administration was inclusive, with Sunni Muslims represented in key roles.
But so far his government has relied almost entirely on his fellow Shias for support, with officials denouncing Sunni political leaders as traitors.
The US deliberations on military action came amid fierce fighting for the oil refinery in Baiji.
There had been reports the insurgents at one point appeared to control most of the site, but Mr al Malaki's security spokesman said: "The security forces are in full control of the Baiji refinery."
ISIS also claims to have captured an airbase in Tal Afar, although this cannot be verified.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Iraq Forces 'Retake' Oil Refinery From ISIS
Dengan url
http://terjunbebasopan.blogspot.com/2014/06/iraq-forces-retake-oil-refinery-from.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Iraq Forces 'Retake' Oil Refinery From ISIS
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Iraq Forces 'Retake' Oil Refinery From ISIS
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar