Iraq says ISIS transferring phosphate to Syria’s Raqqa
ISIS has also ordered a time a change and a ban on contraceptives, Iraq’s Ministry of Human Rights says
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is transferring phosphate raw material from Iraq to Syria's Raqqa, the group's de-facto capital, the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights reported on Sunday.
“The terrorist entity of ISIS has taken control of the phosphate facility at al-Qaem and is transferring raw material of phosphate to Raqqa in Syria,” the ministry said in a statement on its website.
It is not immediately clear why the terrorist group was interested in phosphate, but the material could be used in the making of explosives.
Al-Qaem is located 250 miles (400 km) northwest of Baghdad and has been Iraq's main source of fertilizer.
The U.S. Geological Survey said in 2011 that Iraq had “world-class” reserves of phosphate, the world's second biggest after Morocco, the Financial Times reported.
The Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights also said that ISIS has seized official documents and computers at al-Qaem's directorate of education.
The group has also ordered a time change in the Nineveh Governorate and banned the use of contraceptives.
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