Oil Rig Explosion Kills 32 Azerbaijani Workers in Caspian Sea

Dozens killed as oil rig explodes in Caspian Sea

A gas explosion on an oil platform in Azerbaijan’s Guneshli oil field ignited a major blaze on Friday, said local reports.

The independent Oil Workers’ Rights Protection Committee (SOCAR)in Azerbaijan has told reporters that 32 oil workers had perished in the blaze while 42 others were rescued.

Gunashli is an offshore oil field in the Caspian Sea, located 120km east of Baku, Azerbaijan, 12km southeast of Oil Rocks [Neft Daşları,] with its deep water section being a part of the larger Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) project, which is operated by a BP-led consortium.

Iraqi PM Demands Withdrawal of Turkish Battalion Near Mosul

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Turkey protecting terrorists partners in Mosul?

Iraqi Prime Minister has condemned a Turkish military incursion into its northern territory, demanding their immediate withdrawal.

The incursion of “around one armed battalion [up to 300 troops] with [dozens] of tanks and cannons” into the Nineveh Province was a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty, said Mr Abadi in a statement released on December 5.

Turkish officials claim the troops were deployed on Friday (December 4) as part of a “routine exercise” to train Iraqi troops near the city of Mosul, which was captured by Daesh terrorists 16 months ago.

Iraq’s Foreign Ministry has described the troops movement into the northern Iraqi province as an “incursion,” rejecting the Turkish claim and asserting that the military operation was not coordinated with the federal government in Baghdad, said reports.

“The Turkish sources maintained that Turkey already had troops in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, and the United States and other countries involved in fighting IS there were aware it was moving some troops to the Mosul area,” said a report.

“U.S. officials in Washington said they were aware of Turkey’s move, but it was not coordinated with the anti-IS coalition operating in northern Iraq.”

Turkey stands accused of buying stolen oil from Daesh terrorists [aka, Islamic State, ISIL.] The large scale illegal oil trade is helping the terrorist to rake in about 3 million dollars per day.

Daesh kidnapped 49 staff from the Turkish consulate in Mosul after seizing control of the city in June 2014; however, they released everyone unharmed three months later, AFP reported.

Related Links

• Russian military presents “proof” of Turkey’s role in ISIL oil trade December 2, 2015