Originally published on February 12, 2014

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A pre-dawn attack launched by militants killed at least 16 soldiers guarding an oil pipeline in northern Iraq on Tuesday (February 11).

According to Reuters, the attack took place near the Ain al-Jahash area in southern Mosul, Nineveh province. Militants in pick-up trucks reportedly ambushed an Iraqi army encampment guarding an oil pipeline that stretches from northern Iraq's Kirkuk oilfield to neighbouring Turkey.

CBS reported that eight of the soldiers were beheaded during the attack while the rest were killed by gunfire. However, the BBC reported that 14 of the soldiers were beheaded and one was shot dead and hung from a gate, while another soldier was kidnapped.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack but the militants are believed to belong to al Qaeda-linked groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and a powerful jihadist group - the Levant, which often target Iraq's security forces.

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