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.
Also read:
-
Report: ISIS axes gender mixing in Mosul universities
ISIS declared Sep. 1 as first day of school, with ‘female students starting their day from 9 am to 2 pm while males from 2 pm to 6 pm’ Middle East -
1800GMT: Peshmerga forces retake Mosul dam from ISIS
News Bulletins -
In ISIS-held Mosul, children stay away from school
While schools in Mosul are still running, uncertainty and resistance by parents has resulted in low attendance Features -
ISIS kills Iraqi woman activist in Mosul
Samira Salih al-Nuaimi was reportedly tried in a so-called "Sharia court" for apostasy Middle East -
ISIS fighters abseil from Mosul bridge into heavy traffic
The military exercises come around the same time that ISIS militants beheaded eight Syrian rebels who had surrendered in a town on the border with Iraq Middle East -
Senior ISIS figure killed in Mosul
Radwan Taleb al-Hamdouni, who is described as the radical militant group’s leader in Mosul, was killed with his driver Middle East -
Strikes kill dozens of ISIS fighters north of Mosul
The militant group has suffered major blows in Iraq in recent weeks Middle East -
Mosul residents: ISIS group cuts phones in Iraq city
ISIS announced their decision on their Mosul-based radio network Middle East