Iraqi troops broke a month long siege by ISIL militants of the country’s largest oil refinery Saturday, as Reuters reports.
Retaking the refinery marks a significant achievement against ISIL, just a day after pro-government forces retook the nearby town of Beiji.
Three officers confirmed that Iraqi forces reached the refinery. Security forces at the refinery have been under siege and repeated attacks since June.
Iraqi forces are enjoying success after retaking Beiji, the largest town taken back from ISIL militants since ISIL swept across swathes of Iraq in June.
The operation to retake Beiji began four weeks ago when pro-government fighters and security forces began advancing towards the town from the south, Reuters reports. Beiji was finally entered on Oct. 31 after bombs slowed the pro-government fighters and security forces down.
The large refinery close to Beiji once produced 300,000 barrels a day, accounting for half of the nation’s needs in refined oil products.
