U.S.-Led Airstrikes Target ISIS Oil Assets In Syria

U.S. coalition airstrikes hit 50 Islamic State oil refinements and tankers in two Syrian cities on Tuesday, according to a press release from Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR).

OIR’s assault on ISIS’ few remaining oil assets in Syria began on Monday, just as the Iraqi government announced its victory over the terrorist organization within its borders.

In Syria, this week’s strikes “destroyed 19 [IS] oil refinement stills, four weapon caches, four wellheads, three separator tanks, and a storage tank” near Abu Kamal, the report continued. “Six strikes engaged an [IS] tactical unit and destroyed 25 [IS] refinement stills, five oil tanks, and 10 oil tankers” near Deir ez-Zor.

“Mosul would have been a challenging fight for any army, and the Coalition is proud to stand side-by-side with our Iraqi partners as they celebrate their hard-fought victory. A victory that has cost the lives of many brave Iraqis; soldiers, police and civilians. People of all ethnicities and sects have suffered and sacrificed together, not only for their own country, but to help provide security to the region and the world,” said OIR chief Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend earlier this week.

Raqqa, ISIS’ last physical stronghold, also suffered three airstrikes on Tuesday, which compromised a fighting station and mortar tube.

The war against ISIS in Syria has been more complicated than the analogous campaign in Iraq due to the ongoing civil war between President Bashar al-Assad’s forces and rebel groups. The Islamic State, the Syrian military, and anti-Assad forces have all been fighting each other as millions of Syrians flee to Europe and other parts of the Middle East to escape death or political persecution. The rebel alliance’s influence has waned in recent months as the Russian military, aligned with the Syrian regime, targets opposition groups that Assad considers to be terrorist elements.

By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com

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