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Crude oil is the backbone of Iraq economy and militants of ISIS under this fact very well. Therefore their strategy is so clear is to occupy the oil refineries of Iraq and cities rich in the oil. After taking the control of Mosul, the ISIS militants surrounded the Baiji, the biggest oil refinery of Iraq. According to recent updates, the militants have taken the control of Baiji and almost 80% of the area is under control of ISIS.

Thousands of Iraqis have fled, prompting fears of a brewing humanitarian crisis. Qassim Atta, a spokesman for Iraqi security forces, on Wednesday night said an investigation had been ordered into 59 high-ranking security officials accused of leaving their posts. The officials could be executed if found guilty.

Comprising mostly Sunni Muslims, ISIS is an al Qaeda splinter group that wants to establish a caliphate, or Islamic state, that would stretch from Iraq into northern Syria. The group has had substantial success in Syria battling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's security forces.