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Hundreds of Troops Remain Surrounded in Iraq's Key Refinery, Says US Official
ABC News ^ | 6/21/2014 | Martha Raddatz

Posted on 06/22/2014 10:24:24 AM PDT by mojito

Hundreds of Iraqi troops battling for control of the vital Baiji oil refinery are outnumbered, surrounded and remain trapped inside the facility, a U.S. official told ABC News.

The battle for the refinery was in its fifth day today, although fighters for the radical Islamic militia ISIS have apparently taken control of much of the facility and are willing to keep the government forces isolated until they run out of food and ammunition, sources said.

[....]

Both sides have claimed to be in control of the facility, but witnesses have reported that ISIS has hung its black banners from the refinery. And thick black smoke can be seen on satellite photos coming from the refinery as a result of the battle.

There are approximately 200 Iraqi Security Forces inside, including about 70 members of Iraq's counterterrorism forces, trying to hold off 300 to 500 ISIS fighters, sources said. The defenders have been helped by Iraqi attack helicopters, but have been unable to dislodge the ISIS fighters who have completely surrounded the sprawling Baiji grounds.

Sources told ABC News that the government troops do not have enough supplies inside to survive for a long time, and they can't get out. In addition, Iraq has been unable to send reinforcements because the road to Baiji is controlled by the militants, the source said.

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: baiji; baijirefinery; battleofbaiji; iraq; isis; refinery
Just a guess, but if ISIS does have a supply of shoulder-fired SAMs, it would be enough to neutralize the Iraqi attack helicopters.

Looks like the Iraqis are in a bad spot.

1 posted on 06/22/2014 10:24:24 AM PDT by mojito
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To: mojito

“are willing to keep the government forces isolated until they run out of food and ammunition”

After which they can be butchered and beheaded for propaganda video...


2 posted on 06/22/2014 10:30:01 AM PDT by tcrlaf (Q)
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To: mojito

Remember the Alamo


3 posted on 06/22/2014 10:30:03 AM PDT by DanielRedfoot (Creepy Ass Cracker)
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To: DanielRedfoot
Remember the Alamo

Just like the 300 Spartans.

4 posted on 06/22/2014 10:35:40 AM PDT by justa-hairyape (The user name is sarcastic. Although at times it may not appear that way.)
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To: DanielRedfoot
“Remember the Alamo”

Interesting that he is sending 300. Not so many more than the defenders of the Alamo. And probably facing the same fate.

5 posted on 06/22/2014 10:40:32 AM PDT by Tupelo (I feel more like Philip Nolan every day)
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To: mojito

You’ll have to wait awhile guys, the Shia Militia is still marching around the streets of Baghdad beating their chests.


6 posted on 06/22/2014 10:40:53 AM PDT by headstamp 2
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To: mojito

God , I hate their rotten black flags.

Somemone should produce a line of doormats in that design


7 posted on 06/22/2014 10:44:10 AM PDT by LeoWindhorse
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To: headstamp 2

unbelievable isn’t it ?
Worthless Shia s#itheads .

The only ones we should be supporting are the Kurds and
we should be doing that with the full forces of the
U.S. military . But we won’t , because we have to suck up to
islamist Turkey , who hate the Kurds .
Wait till ISIS turns it’s eyes on Turkey ....


8 posted on 06/22/2014 10:46:25 AM PDT by LeoWindhorse
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To: Cap Huff

Dire..


9 posted on 06/22/2014 10:50:02 AM PDT by Dog (Founding member of the Osama Bin Laden was alive the whole time club..)
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To: mojito

It is going exactly as our president hoped it would.


10 posted on 06/22/2014 10:50:55 AM PDT by Revel
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To: LeoWindhorse

Actually, I believe Turkey is quite secular right now, although the Islamic pedophiles are pushing hard for a Sharia government.


11 posted on 06/22/2014 10:52:13 AM PDT by SgtHooper (This is not my tag!)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
Yeah, it's the fault of the Koch Brothers and other one percenters! /s
12 posted on 06/22/2014 1:15:31 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: LeoWindhorse; SgtHooper

Turkey’s attitude toward Iraq’s and Syria’s Kurds will change, because it it doesn’t, eastern Turkey will be toast. Erdogan thought he could ally with Iran, and he learned his error. This Iraqi civil war will result in de facto partition of Iraq, and the overthrow of the Assad dictatorship, but it will take a few more years for the latter.


13 posted on 06/22/2014 1:19:26 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: mojito

Is this the Al-amo.


14 posted on 06/22/2014 1:59:09 PM PDT by VerySadAmerican (Liberals were raised by women or wimps.)
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To: mojito

Why is our entire future, oil prices, protection from terrorists, everything in one guy’s hands. I don’t care who it is there should be a way to get around this and send some of O’s drones in there.


15 posted on 06/22/2014 2:03:29 PM PDT by Kenny
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To: Kenny
From what I understand, the US drones that could reach this theater are all stationed in the Sunni gulf states. The gulf states, to greater or lesser degrees, all support ISIS. Supposedly, 0bama would need to get their permission to deploy these drone assets, and the gulf states won't give it.

Not that 0bama is terribly upset at this.

16 posted on 06/22/2014 2:13:36 PM PDT by mojito (Zero, our Nero.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Agreed. The only thing of value in Iraq appears to be the oil fields. At this time, I’d like to see the Kurds take that, and for which I am sure they are preparing.


17 posted on 06/22/2014 2:15:02 PM PDT by SgtHooper (This is not my tag!)
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To: SgtHooper

I’d be surprised if they’re willing to do anything soon, but once the all-talk Shiite-head actually gets his paramilitary engaged in combat with ISIS, the Kurds will start to move in a good direction. Right now everyone is waiting for someone else to make the first move. My guess (reprising it here) is that the ISIS has borrowed a page from the Zeta cartel which used to virtually run Mexico using a massive, sophisticated communication network that was the envy of most national militaries. The reason ISIS is on the move is they’re well organized and have a good command chain.


18 posted on 06/22/2014 3:05:04 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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