South Korea's KBS reported that the Iraqi government forces have recaptured the city of Baiji from the ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) jihadists. Baiji is a vital oil refining town that is also a crucial strategic point for both the Iraq forces and the ISIS militants. The town was under the control of ISIS militants for 3 months before it was liberated.
Local news reported that the Iraq forces are now moving to neutralize the ISIS militants that have fled to surrounding areas around Baiji. Iraq's Ministry of Defense announced that the jihadists that were originally in control of the oil city are under the pursuit of the government forces and the city of Baiji is now under the complete control of the Iraqi government.
Baiji is a crucial strategic location for both sides of the conflict. The city is situated very close to the highway that links the capital Bagdad and Mosul, which is the second largest city in Iraq. It is reported that militia had also participated in this operation alongside the Iraqi military.
Recently the Iraq forces and the U.S. coalition have been earning a number of victories and have begun to slowly recapture Iraqi and Syrian territory from the Islamic State. However, UNICEF announced that there are still around 400,000 refugees, many of them children, who are still under great threat not only from the militants but also from the brutal Iraqi winter.
Many of these refugee children are resting in shelters in free Kurdistan areas. It is estimated that the number of refugees could be as high as 1 million, and though the United Nations has already started to provide food and clothing for these civilians, less than half of them are benefiting from this humanitarian aid. The problem was lack of funds, and UNICEF urged other nations and global aid organizations to financially support them in order to help these refugees.
