Islamic State (ISIS) militants launched an assault on two energy facilities in Northern Iraq, which resulted in at least five casualties and caused operations in a major oil pumping station to halt, according to Reuters.

The first offense on the AB2 gas compressor station, about 15 km northwest of Kirkuk, took place when four gunmen, aided by grenades, infiltrated an external door and critically injured two guards. Elite counter-terrorism forces later regained control of the facility.

Al Arabiya reported that the gunmen escaped to Bai Hassan oil station, 25 km further northwest, where they launched their second attack, destroying an oil storage tank.

The attack led to the suspension of activities at an oil station which had been pumping about 50,000 b/d to the northern Kurdish region, as part of the facility is still burning. It is not clear when operations will return to normal.