US-led coalition destroys over 50 IS oil assets in Syria

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – During airstrikes on Tuesday, the US-led coalition destroyed over 50 Islamic State (IS)-controlled oil refinements and tankers in two Syrian cities.

In an official statement, the Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) revealed air raids were conducted in Syria near the cities of Abu Kamal and Deir ez-Zor.

The OIR said 44 IS-controlled oil refineries were targeted and destroyed as well as ten oil tankers.

The airstrikes directed at IS’ oil assets were conducted for the second day in a row as the US-led coalition continues its ongoing battle against the militant group in Syria.

“In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 14 strikes consisting of 18 engagements against [IS] targets,” the press release said.

“Near Abu Kamal, five strikes destroyed 19 [IS] oil refinement stills, four weapon caches, four wellheads, three separator tanks, and a storage tank,” the report continued.

The OIR press release added that “six strikes engaged an [IS] tactical unit and destroyed 25 [IS] refinement stills, five oil tanks, and 10 oil tankers” near Deir ez-Zor.

The US-led coalition also fired three airstrikes near Raqqa, IS’ last remaining stronghold in the region, destroying a fighting position and a mortar tube.

Meanwhile, although Iraqi officials announced the full liberation of Mosul, the coalition carried out five strikes near two areas in Mosul and Qayyarah.

The air raids destroyed “18 fighting positions, seven medium machine guns, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, two mortar systems, and two vehicles.”

While the coalition is leading an air campaign against IS in Syria, Kurdish-led forces are actively battling the militants on the ground.

Editing by G.H. Renaud