(VOVworld) - Iraqi forces on Saturday broke a months-long siege by jihadist fighters of the country's largest oil refinery.

An Iraqi soldier walks through Jurf al-Sakhr after regime forces retook the town from Islamic State militants on October 27, 2014 (Photo: AFP)

According to the governor of Salaheddin province, Raad al-Juburi, Iraqi forces reached the gate of the refinery. Ousting IS fighters from around the refinery would mark another significant achievement for Baghdad, a day after pro-government forces retook the nearby town of Baiji. Three officers confirmed that Iraqi forces had reached the refinery, 200 kilometres (120 miles) north of Baghdad, where security forces have been encircled and under repeated attack since June.