Iraq puts out fire at one of two wells in Khabbaz field set ablaze Dec 9: Deputy oil minister

Dubai — Iraq's oil ministry has managed to put out fire at one of two oil wells in the northern Khabbaz oil field that were set ablaze on Dec. 9 by explosive devices in a terrorist attack, a deputy oil minister said Dec. 13.

Efforts are underway to contain the fire at the second well, Karim Hattab said in an oil ministry statement.

The two oil wells produce no more than 2,000 b/d, Hattab said on Dec. 9.

No one has claimed responsibility for that attack on the oil wells in Khabbaz in the northern Kirkuk province.

The targeting of Khabbaz follows a Nov. 29 attack on one of the tanks in the small northern Siniyeh refinery, which temporarily caught fire.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for Siniyeh refinery attack, according to Iraqi media.

A resurgent Islamic State has intensified this year attacks on foreign targets and personnel. Iraqi troops defeated Islamic State fighters in the 2014-2017 war, but their resurfacing has alarmed foreign missions in Iraq, which is still reeling from the aftermath of the war.

Islamic State destroyed a number of energy facilities during the 2014-2017, some of which are still being rebuilt by the cash-strapped Iraqi government.