WASHINGTON, October 25 (RIA Novosti) - Iraqi Forces have slowed in advancing on the Iraqi town of Bayji, where a major oil refinery has been caught in the fighting with the Islamic State (IS), Pentagon Spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said.
"The Iraqi Security Forces that are advancing on Bayji have been slowed significantly in the last few days, some because of weather, but by-and-large more because of this defensive depth that ISIL [the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] has put around Bayji in terms of IED [improvised explosion devices]," Kirby stated Friday during a press briefing.
He noted the Iraqis have had to clear fifty or more IEDs laid by Islamic State (IS) fighters in and around the town of Bayji.
Kirby admitted the Iraqi forces are still in need of additional training, military hardware and advanced intelligence for them to make significant advancements on towns like Bayji and complete a major invasion into IS territory.
"They are not ready for a major counter offensive right now," Kirby said.
Still, Kirby noted, Iraqi forces were making small gains in confronting IS forces.
Earlier this week, the US and coalition forces announced they struck IS positions just south of the Bayji oil refinery. Two other strikes destroyed IS vehicles and equipment.
The slowed advancement come at a time when the US Treasury officials are saying the Islamic State is bringing in nearly $1 million a day in oil revenue.
