New IS offensive lights more Qayarah wells on fire
Security forces repel attack, but new wellhead fires are emitting noxious smoke and choking civilians who had just begun to resettle.
A NASA image from Oct. 4 that shows wellheads still on fire. (Source: NASA)
ERBIL - Militants from the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group attacked the Qayarah oil field over the weekend, highlighting the threat they still pose to the recently liberated territory just south of Mosul.
While the IS offensive was repelled, the militants were able to set more oil wells ablaze. The fires are emitting noxious black smoke that poisons the air for civilians trying to return to their homes, and could reduce visibility for coalition aircraft looking to hit IS targets in the lead-up to an expected fight for Mosul.
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