Iraq's Largest Oil Refinery Formally Handed Over to Government

The largest oil refinery in Iraq has been formally transferred to the government in Baghdad, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesperson Col. Steven Warren stated on Friday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Baiji, the largest oil refinery in Iraq, was captured by Islamic State militants last year. The Iraqi military retook the facility earlier in October.

The ISIL damage to oil fields in Iraq have cost the country billions of dollars, the Iraqi Oil Ministry told Sputnik in October.

"The Baiji oil refinery was formally turned over to the [Iraqi] Ministry of Oil," Warren said.