Iraq blames coalition helicopter for refinery fire

BAGHDAD, Jan 15 (Reuters) – Iraq said a helicopter from the U.S.-led coalition caused a blaze on Tuesday that shut the major Shuaiba refinery near the southern oil hub of Basra.

A spokesman for the British military denied any coalition helicopters had been involved in the incident, which took place around dawn.


A source at the state-run Southern Oil Company, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the refinery had been closed as a precautionary measure “until further notice” after the fire damaged the gas and fuel production units.

The fire had been extinguished but many workers suffered severe burns, the source told Reuters by telephone.

While the source said the blaze had been caused by a mortar attack, Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani blamed a coalition helicopter.

“The first report indicates that the fire at the refinery was caused by the hovering of a coalition forces helicopter above the refinery. This caused the eruption of a huge fire and a loss of a huge quantity of gas,” Shahristani said.

“We have always asked coalition forces not to let their aircraft hover above the refinery.”

Reuters