BAGHDAD/ Aswat al-Iraq: Iraqi oil ministry disclosed today that the oil products pipeline between Salahal-Din and Ninewa provinces was hit by sabotage operation.

The sabotage operation led to ignite fire in the pipeline and stoppage of oil flow in Beiji – Hamam al-Alil route.

In a statement, copy received by Aswat al-Iraq, the ministry added that some terrorists planted bombs around the site in order to prevent technical teams from reaching the explosion site, which necessitated getting the help from anti-mines squads.

It was the second attempt against this pipeline within less than a week, the statement added.

The ministry pointed out that the sabotage operation was to create a state of shortage in oil products in Ninewa province and other areas benefiting from this pipeline.

The protection of the pipeline is the responsibility of the people living en route, within the police force, which ranged to 600 persons.

The ministry requested the provinces en route to protect the pipeline, each according to its capacity, the statement added.

The pipeline provides about 7 million liters of oil products daily.