ISIS seizes gas field in Syria defeats Iraq forces near Tikrit

ISIS seizes gas field in Syria defeats Iraq forces near Tikrit

7-19-14

Tikrit – After a fierce battle with Assad forces ISIS managed to capture the Shaar gas field east of the city of Homs. Iraqi forces attempting to recapture the Iraqi city of Tikrit were routed from a former US military base.
The major gas field was captured after a fierce twelve-hour battle. Although initial reports claimed that about 23 people were killed, hundreds remain missing. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, that supports the Syrian rebels, put the death toll at 270 killed in all including Syrian forces, guards at the facility and workers. There are still 90 guards and workers who have not been accounted for as yet. Another report claims that 340 are unaccounted for in total and they are believed to be badly wounded and/or captured. Most of ISIS recent expansions in Syria have been at the expense of other rebel groups fighting against Assad.

ISIS also seized much of Syrian oil facilities in Deir Ezzor and they also occupied some oil fields near Mosul in Iraq. The capture of the Shaar field represents the furthest western expansion of ISIS into Syria as well as an asset that will produce more revenue for ISIS.
In Iraq ISIS forces have seized the largest refinery in the country after surrounding it for some time. Workers were not harmed. There were troops guarding the facility but they were forced to retreat after suffering many casualties and dozens were taken prisoner. The attack was launched about 4AM. The refinery is at Baiji about 130 miles north of Baghdad.
Iraqi forces suffered a humiliating and costly setback in their attempt to retake the city of Tikrit from ISIS. Iraqi forces were stationed at former US military base Speicher. ISIS fighters attacked and drove out the Iraqis killing and capturing hundreds of government troops. Earlier this week, the Iraqi military announced that they were about to make a final push to retake the city. The ISIS counter-attack brings to a crashing halt the three week drive by the government to retake the city. The city has been occupied by ISIS since June 11. A Twitter post said that ISIS militants had shot down or destroyed right on the ground as many as eight helicopters. If this is true it would be a huge loss to the government. The ISIS advance in Syria and Iraq seems far from stopped in many areas.

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