Two oil pipeline were blown up in Iraq, north exports halted

One official in the North Oil company announced on Tuesday that one oil pipeline linking northern Iraq with Turkey was exposed to an attack that resulted in halting exports to Turkey.

A local oil line to the north of the country was attacked and smoke columns were seen coming out of the explosion site, forcing the technicians to close the line, according to the official.

The official who wanted to be anonymous said that the firemen are working to fight the fire following the attack which targeted the line near Beji to the north of Baghdad.

The official added that the line transports oil from the fields outside Karkouk to an oil refinery in Beji, expecting that the attack will not affect oil exports.

The Iraqi police confirmed that the two explosions took place yesterday morning in the local and main lines of oil exports from Karkouk to Turkey.

In a statement, the American army confirmed that the explosion took place near Beji but no casualties were reported, stressing that the oil line was also blocked.

The statement said that security men guarding the line heard the explosion but the reason of the fire is still being investigated.