Baghdad, April 17 (RHC)-- Iraqi security forces battled militants with the self-proclaimed Islamic State Thursday inside Iraq’s largest oil refinery. The United States has been conducting airstrikes in the area around the Baiji refinery.
Meanwhile, a top Iraqi military official told the Associated Press Iraqi forces have managed to take control of an area south of the refinery, securing the towns of al-Malha and al-Mazraah.
The fierce fighting came as Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi continued his visit to Washington, meeting with Vice President Joe Biden. Biden pledged to seek a "strategic partnership" with Iraq.
