ISIS Suicide Attack on Baghdad Gas Refinery

Iraqi police sources reported that suicide attacks on a gas refinery north of Baghdad, claimed by the Islamic State group, left at least 11 dead and 21 injured, some of whom were security forces. According to Reuters, a police source stated that at 6 AM on Sunday, May 15, a car bomb driven by a suicide attacker entered the gas facility in the Taji area. This explosion paved the way for six attackers equipped with explosive belts to enter the facility, where they engaged with security forces. A spokesperson for the Baghdad Operations Command said that fire broke out in three tanks of the facility, but eventually, security forces managed to regain control of the situation. An employee living near the attack site reported hearing a loud explosion and then seeing flames and black smoke rising from the factory. He added that dozens of armored vehicles from the army and police rushed to the factory, and the clash lasted about an hour. The Amaq news agency, affiliated with the Islamic State group, claimed responsibility for the explosions. The Islamic State group targeted three areas in Baghdad with bombings last week, resulting in approximately 100 deaths. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi stated on Saturday that extremists are exploiting the political crisis in the country to carry out more attacks. The political crisis in Iraq has intensified due to rising demands for government reforms and the resistance of major political parties. The Taji area, where the attack occurred, has a military base where international coalition forces have been training Iraqi troops for readiness to fight against the Islamic State group.