Southern Iraq being drained of oil

BASRA, Iraq, Feb. 11 (UPI) — The Iraqi government has accused neighboring Iran of taking over more than 15 oil wells on the Iraq-Iran border.

Inadequate security permit militia groups in the south — allegedly backed by neighboring countries — to loot the region’s riches, particularly along the borders, the Alsumaria Iraqi satellite network reported Monday.


A U.S. report estimated oil smugglers pocketed yearly revenues of nearly $4 billion, equal to some developing states’ budgets, the network reported.

Observers said recent clashes between security forces and al-Yamani groups in Basra and Nasiriyah were attempts to demonstrate that Iraqis weren’t capable of taking over their country’s security, among other things.

UPI