Iraqi oil official shot in Kirkuk

KIRKUK, June 29, 2015 – Gunmen shot and killed a top official from Iraq’s state-run North Oil Company in the city of Kirkuk on Sunday.

Saad Al Karbalaie, the company’s director of operations, was forced out of his vehicle as he was leaving his office and shot fatally, according to police.

As of Monday morning, there was no claim of responsibility for the attack, but Iraqi forces have clashed repeatedly with the Islamic State near oilfields, refineries and oil infrastructure in the country.

Karbalaie supervised production and export facilities in Kirkuk.

The giant Kirkuk oilfield has been the scene of fighting between Iraqi Kurdish forces and the Islamic State.

Kirkuk and associated fields produce around 400,000-500,000 barrels of oil per day.

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