Iraq sends forces to key refinery amid heavy fighting with ISMay 5, 2015 - 15:07 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iraq's military spokesman said reinforcements are being rushed to the key Beiji refinery north of Baghdad amid heavy fighting there with Islamic State militants, according to the Associated Press. Brig. Gen. Saad Maan appeared on state TV on Tuesday, May 5, denying earlier reports in some Iraqi media that IS had taken over large sections of the refinery. Ammar Hikmat, the deputy governor for Salahuddin province where the refinery is located, confirmed to the AP that there is fierce fighting around the refinery and that IS militants do control part of the complex. The government has several times said the refinery, the largest in the country, was under its control, but militants repeatedly counterattacked there in the past months. Beiji is north of the provincial capital Tikrit, which was retaken by Iraqi forces earlier this month. Photo: Reuters Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Court in Azerbaijan extends former Karabakh leader’s arrest by 5 months The Binagadi District Court in Azerbaijan has granted the prosecutor’s petition to extend the arrest of Arkady Ghukasyan. Ucom General Director joins High-Tech Development Panel Discussion The discussion was titled "The Role of International Corporations and Investors as Catalysts for Development of High-Tech Ecosystem." U.S. still believes “peace is possible” between Armenia, Azerbaijan The United States continues to believe that peace is possible between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Vedant Patel says. Dozens detained as antigovernment protest continue in Armenia At least 63 people demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation were detained on May 14 as they blocked streets in Yerevan. |