BEHDINAN, — The People’s Defense Forces (HPG) took responsibility for the explosion of the pipeline of Botan located between Kerkuk and Yumurtalik in the vicinity of Merdin city.
The Press and Communication Centre of HPG, the armed wing of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) stated that “On 3rd February at 20:00 with the local time in our forces exploded the oil pipeline in Savur of Merdin city in Botan province. The explosion resulted in a huge fire which after two days they have not been able to extinguish.”
According to the local correspondents a huge flame rose over following the explosion and no one was allowed to approach the area and the flame is still going on.
The HPG had also carried out similar attacks on Botash gas pipeline between Hezeh and Medyat in November 2011.
The HPG guerrillas exploded Bayizid Agri pipeline on 11 August 2011. This explosion led Iran to cut the oil flow. According to ANF report the restoration of the pipeline took one month.
The HPG guerrillas also exploded the Botash pipeline on 3rd August.