LUANDA, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Angolan National Oil Company, Sonangol, has resumed operations in Iraq suspended since 2012 due to the outbreak of war in the region.

Sonangol announced late Thursday that the North Oil Company (Iraq's national concessionaire), handled back its assets as well as the fields in Najmah and Qayyarah in the south of the Mosul city.

The referred fields have estimated oil reserves of more than 1 billion barrels, Sonangol said in a statement.

Sonangol obtained its 75 percent stake in the assets in 2010 but was forced to suspend the operations due to the fighting in Mosul region.