SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Iraqi oil ministry confirmed on Wednesday that an oil field in northwest of Kirkuk was attacked by militants using bombs.
In a statement, the Iraqi ministry said two wells at Bay Hassan oilfield were exploded at dawn on Wednesday.
The explosions led to the killing and injury of a number of the security forces and energy police, the ministry added.
Earlier, Iraqi media reported that a policeman was killed and another was wounded in an Islamic State (ISIS) attack on the oilfield.
Meanwhile, National Iraqi News Agency said ISIS militants attacked a security point near Bay Hassan oilfield in Dibis district, killing a policeman and wounding two others.
Reuters cited security sources as saying that militants attacked a nearby security post, killing one policeman and wounding three others.
One security official told Reuters that the attack on the post was meant to distract police and allow other militants to plant the bombs.
The last attack on Bai Hassan oilfield, which was claimed by Islamic State, was on April 17 when militants used explosives to attack two oil wells without causing significant damage.
The federal government announced victory over ISIS by the end of 2017 after Iraqi and Kurdish forces backed by U.S.-led Coalition regained control of areas once captured by the militant group.
Despite its defeat, ISIS still poses a threat to the security and stability of the country as there are still sleeper cells in Iraq.
*This story was updated at 11:22 a.m. EBL time
