Airstrike Destroys Fleet of ISIL Oil Tankers in Syria

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2016 – In the largest airstrike of its kind to date, the coalition destroyed a fleet of 168 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant oil tanker trucks near Palmya, Syria, according to a Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve news release.

"The coalition continues to forcefully prosecute the air war on ISIL revenue capability," Air Force Col. John Dorrian, CJTF-OIR spokesman, said in the release. "When ISIL has access to large sums of money, they use it to conduct violent terror attacks against anyone who doesn't share their barbaric ideology."

The coalition is systematically targeting ISIL-affiliated oil infrastructure to eliminate millions of dollars in potential revenue, the release said. This most-recent strike resulted in estimated lost revenue of more than $2 million. Stopping or severely hampering ISIL cash flow degrades their ability to fund the war effort in Iraq and Syria and terrorist attacks around the world.

The destruction of ISIL oil tanker trucks and petroleum equipment is just one of the multiple targets the coalition strikes to hasten the military defeat ISIL in Iraq and Syria by, with and through partnered forces, the release said.