Iraq/Iran: US Officials Say Iran is Firing Artillery in Support of Iraq's Fight for Beiji Oil Refinery

May 22, 2015 | Robert Burns, Associated Press
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Iran has entered the fight to retake a major Iraqi oil refinery from Islamic State militants, contributing small numbers of troops — including some operating artillery and other heavy weapons — in support of advancing Iraqi ground forces, U.S. defense officials said Friday. Two U.S. defense officials said Iranian forces have taken a significant offensive role in the Beiji operation in recent days, in conjunction with Iraqi Shiite militia. The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.