Iraqi forces repel IS attack in Salahudin province

The Iraqi security forces on Wednesday repelled an attack by the Islamic State (IS) militants on an oil field in Salahudin province, while battles continued with the extremist militants in Iraq's largest refinery of Baiji, a provincial security source said.

The IS militants attacked the oil field of Allas in east of the provincial capital city of Tikrit, some 170 km north of Baghdad, sparking fierce clashes with the Iraqi security forces and allied militias, known as Hashd Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization, who fought back the attackers, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

After hours of heavy clashes the IS militants failed to seize the oil field but managed to impose a siege on the headquarters of a military brigade in the area, while reinforcement troops from the security forces and allied militias were dispatched to the scene, the source said.

So far, the clashes resulted in the wounding of five militiamen, including an officer, and the destruction of two Humvees, the source said, citing initial reports.

Allas is an abandoned oil field located at the edge of the mountainous area of Himreen, some 40 km east of Tikrit, which has been under control of the IS militants since June last year, but was freed by the Iraqi forces in March.

Separately, two Shiite militiamen were killed and two others wounded in a roadside bomb went off while they were conducting a foot patrol in Himreen area, the source said.

In addition, a security member was killed and three others were wounded when a roadside bomb struck their vehicle near the town of Is'haqi, some 100 km north of Baghdad, the source added.

Also in the province, the security forces continued their clashes with the IS militants in the partially seized oil refinery of Baiji, some 200 km north of Baghdad, and the troops managed to blew up a suicide truck bomb inside the refinery during the battles, another provincial security source anonymously told Xinhua.

On Tuesday, Iraq dispatched reinforcement troops comprised of a number of Brigades from the federal police and allied militias, backed by tanks and armored vehicles to an airbase just north of Tikrit in order to launch an offensive aimed at retaking full control of the oil refinery north of the town of Baiji.

Over the past few days, IS militants have repeatedly carried out attacks on government troops and allied militias, and captured large areas of the vast oil refinery.

Since March 2, around 30,000 Iraqi troops and thousands of allied Shiite and Sunni militias have been involved in the biggest offensive against IS militants to recapture the northern part of Salahudin. Endit