Russia announced the attack of its warplanes on any tanker trucks traveling through territory belonging to the Islamic State of Syria, a day after admitting a terrorist attack which brought down a Russian passenger jet going to Egypt last month. And to cut off the terrorist’s attacks, the Russian Air Force destroyed 500 ISIS fuel trucks transporting illegal oil from Syria to Iraq.
Russia targets 206 #ISIS sites in Syria after confirming bomb downed #A321 plane over Sinai https://t.co/shCKjT5ZhM pic.twitter.com/jBbhxHDunf
— RT (@RT_com) November 18, 2015
“Today, Russian warplanes are now flying on a so-called ‘free hunt’ against tanker trucks owned by terrorists controlled by IS which carries oil products. In past few years, Islamic State and other extremist groups organized an operation called ‘pipeline on wheels’ on territories they control. Our aviation destroyed 500 fuel trucks in the first few days, which lowered the ability of the militants to illegally export oil products,” said Russian General Staff spokesman Colonel General Andrey Kartapolov.
In a video posted in YouTube, Kartapolov displayed images of convoys comprising of hundreds of vehicles transporting oil to back his assertion.
Earlier this week, the United States also attacked hundreds of trucks used by extremist groups in transporting the smuggled crude oil produced in Syria. According to reports, 116 trucks were destroyed near Deir al-Zour, Syria that is being controlled by the Islamic State.
“Over 100,000 tons of fuels have been delivered to Iraq for processing, and the revenue generated from their illegal exports was the terrorists’ source of funding,” Kartapolov added.
Oil workers in Syria and Iraq along with Western intelligence, estimates the figures of up to 40,000 oil barrels were being produced by ISIS-held territories everyday. It was also revealed last month that ISIS are making more than £320million a year from oil, making the group flourish regionally and internationally.