(Photo: VCG)

BEIRUT, March 13 (Xinhua) -- A Lebanese security source told Xinhua on Friday that unidentified people punctured the oil pipeline that runs from Iraq to Lebanon via Syria in the Wadi Khaled area located in Akkar, northern Lebanon.

The source pointed out that the aim of the attack was to extract oil, refine it manually, and sell it on the black market.

The security source noted that this is the third time that the pipeline has been punctured during the past two years.

Export of oil through the pipeline stopped decades ago, but it still contains large quantities of crude oil.

This pipeline is one of the oldest oil transport lines from Iraq and has a diameter of 12 inches.