The United States and its coalition partners have targeted the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’s ability to make money from oil in the latest round of airstrikes.
Fighter jets and drones from the U.S., Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates launched 13 attacks against 12 mobile refineries in eastern Syria late Wednesday, U.S. Central Command said in a statement. The aircraft came from bases in the region and all returned safely, the statement said.
“We are still assessing the outcome of the attack on the refineries, but have initial indications that the strikes were successful,” the statement said.
The Islamic State has targeted oil resources in its effort to grab territory in both Syria and Iraq, and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told the House Armed Services Committee on Sept. 18 that the group has pumped 100,000 barrels from the fields it controls. Officials estimate that the group earns up to $2 million a day selling the refined oil on the black market.
Cutting off the Islamic State’s income from oil and other sources is one of the pillars of the Obama administration’s strategy to combat the group.
“There’s no higher priority than getting that — to cut that off,” Hagel told lawmakers.
