Iranian troops have entered southern Iraqi territory and taken control of an oil well, reports say. An Iraqi official played down the incident, saying the area was abandoned and right on a disputed border section.Iranian soldiers crossed the border and raised an Iranian flag over the Fakkah oil field, a US military spokesman told the AFP news agency. Iraq's Deputy Interior Minister confirmed the Iranians stayed in Iraq and were in control of the well. Earlier it was reported that they had withdrawn back across the border. Deputy Interior Minister Ahmed Ali al-Khafaji initially told the Reuters news agency the reports of the Iranian incursion were not true. But Mr Khafaji later confirmed the incursion had taken place, and said 11 Iranians had dug-in at the oil well and had not left. He said there had been no military response from Iraqi forces.. "We are awaiting orders from our leader," he said. The incursion is one of several that have occurred in the last few days, he said. The well is about 500m from an Iranian border fort and about 1km from an Iraqi fort, US Colonel Peter Newell told AFP Film: CNN: Iran-Iraq Conflict, Dec. 18 2009 | |
