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On June 29, ISIS terrorists attacked a convoy of tankers loaded with oil in the eastern Raqqa countryside in Syria’s northeastern region.
The terrorist group’s news agency, Amaq, claimed that the tankers were moving oil from fields held by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to government-held areas.
According to Amaq, five tankers were “damaged” after being targeted by ISIS fighters with machine guns. Some of the drivers were wounded.
The tankers are reportedly owned by the Katerji Group, a Syrian company that ships oil from northeastern Syria oil fields, which are all held by the SDF, to the Damascus government. The company and its owner, Syrian Parliament Member Hussam al-Katerji, are sanctioned by the US.
Two years ago, ISIS cells in northeastern and central Syria begin targeting oil shipments en-route to government-held areas. The attacks began around the same time the US tightened its sanctions on Damascus.
ISIS appears to be attempting to cut oil supplies from northeastern Syria to the Damascus government. However, the group’s attacks have seen very little success, so far. Both the SDF and government forces have been effectively escorting and guarding oil shipments.
