(VOVworld) – Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi escaped unharmed as a sniper fired on his convoy Monday near a town, where security forces have been battling jihadists.

The Iraqi Defence Minister survived an assassination attempt on Monday [Getty Images]

The attack took place while Obeidi was touring the area to oversee military operations in the Tal Abu Jarad area near Baiji, 200km from Baghdad. A statement released by Defense Ministry said a sniper who was believed to be of the Islamic State (IS) started firing at Minister al-Obeidi’s convoy, killing one of his guards. The attack took place when Iraqi security forces and allied gunners, supported by the US-led coalition, are battling with extremists in Baiji – where Iraq's largest oil refinery is located. Iraqi security forces are exerting efforts to push the IS out of the refinery which has long been seized by the group.