Islamic State Besieges Baiji Refinery Again

Islamic State is continuing to press its attack to retake the refinery of Baiji, taking large portions of the facility as of today. Some reports put Islamic State control of Baiji at around half the refinery. Iraqi troops are currently trapped inside the refinery and report being low on food, medical supplies, and ammunition. Baiji, the largest refinery in Iraq, was first captured by Islamic State last June but was later taken by government forces last month. Iraqi military sources report that the Islamic State militants have progressed so far into Baiji that hitting them with airstrikes would be impossible without risking damaging or destroying the refinery.

The stranded police and military forces are desperately requesting reinforcements, fearing being taken alive by the Islamic State militants. An unnamed officer currently behind the front lies at Baiji reports Islamic State as holding all major buildings and having flanked government forces with the usage of snipers and armored car bombs over the past four days of the battle.

Iraqi government officials have refused to comment, but have claimed that Islamic State controls around 30 to 40 percent of the Baiji facility, with the key production areas of the refinery remaining in government hands. The Islamic State has cost the Baghdad government millions of dollars in lost revenue due to the inability to stabilize the refinery.

Most Western observers expect that the Iraqi military as a whole is not yet up to the task of combating Islamic State effectively, certainly not without NATO aid.

Islamic State fighters appear to demonstrate more skill and combat proficiency than most in the Iraqi government security forces, and have utilized simultaneous offensives in Ramadi and Baiji to effectively keep the Iraqi government on the back foot, delaying proposed offensives to retake Anbar province, and eventually Mosul.