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Islamic State crisis: US hits IS oil targets in Syria | Islamic State crisis: US hits IS oil targets in Syria |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The US-led coalition against Islamic States (IS) has targeted oil refineries in Syria during a third night of air strikes against the militants. | |
The raids - carried out by US, Saudi and UAE aircraft - killed 14 IS fighters and five civilians in eastern Syria, activists said. | The raids - carried out by US, Saudi and UAE aircraft - killed 14 IS fighters and five civilians in eastern Syria, activists said. |
The US military said the refineries generated as much as $2 million (£1.2m) per day in revenue for IS. | The US military said the refineries generated as much as $2 million (£1.2m) per day in revenue for IS. |
US President Barack Obama has vowed to dismantle the IS "network of death". | US President Barack Obama has vowed to dismantle the IS "network of death". |
IS has seized large areas of Syria and Iraq in recent months and controls several oilfields. Sales of smuggled crude oil have helped finance its offensive in both countries. | IS has seized large areas of Syria and Iraq in recent months and controls several oilfields. Sales of smuggled crude oil have helped finance its offensive in both countries. |
The US has launched nearly 200 air strikes against the militants in Iraq since August and expanded the operation against IS to Syria on Monday. | The US has launched nearly 200 air strikes against the militants in Iraq since August and expanded the operation against IS to Syria on Monday. |
The US military said the latest strikes, using fighter jets and drones, hit "small-scale" refineries that were producing "between 300-500 barrels of refined petroleum per day". | |
"We are still assessing the outcome of the attack on the refineries, but have initial indications that the strikes were successful," the US Central Command said in a statement. | "We are still assessing the outcome of the attack on the refineries, but have initial indications that the strikes were successful," the US Central Command said in a statement. |
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an activist group that monitors the Syrian conflict, said the strikes killed 14 IS fighters in Deir al-Zour and five civilians in Hassakeh. | The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an activist group that monitors the Syrian conflict, said the strikes killed 14 IS fighters in Deir al-Zour and five civilians in Hassakeh. |
Meanwhile, Kurdish forces in northern Syria say they have pushed back an advance by IS fighters near the Kurdish town of Kobane, close to the border with Turkey. | |
IS had besieged the town for several days, taking control of the surrounding villages and forcing more than 140,000 Syrian Kurds to flee into Turkey. | |
The BBC's Mark Lowen, who is on the Syria-Turkey border, says some of those Kurds are now trying to return to Kobane to fight with the Kurdish militia. | |
Turkey has been overwhelmed by an estimated 1.5 million Syrian and Iraqi refugees since the conflict in Syria between opposition forces and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad began three years ago. | |
Rebel forces have faced several setbacks in recent months amid offensives against them by both IS fighters and Syrian government forces. | |
On Thursday, Syria's army said it had retaken the key strategic town of Adra, northeast of Damascus, which had been held by rebels. | |
Coalition growing | Coalition growing |
On Wednesday, the UN Security Council adopted a binding resolution compelling states to prevent their nationals joining jihadists in Iraq and Syria. | |
President Obama chaired the session and said nations must prevent the recruitment and financing of foreign fighters. | |
The US says more than 40 countries have offered to join the anti-IS coalition. | The US says more than 40 countries have offered to join the anti-IS coalition. |
France said its fighter jets were carrying out air strikes in Iraq again on Thursday, a day after the beheading of a French hostage in Algeria by an IS-linked jihadist group. | France said its fighter jets were carrying out air strikes in Iraq again on Thursday, a day after the beheading of a French hostage in Algeria by an IS-linked jihadist group. |
The French military has been carrying out air strikes in Iraq since last week but has not taken part in anti-IS operations in Syria. | The French military has been carrying out air strikes in Iraq since last week but has not taken part in anti-IS operations in Syria. |
UK Prime Minister David Cameron says the British military is also ready to "play its part" against IS. | UK Prime Minister David Cameron says the British military is also ready to "play its part" against IS. |
The UK Parliament has been recalled to discuss plans for air strikes against IS on Friday. | The UK Parliament has been recalled to discuss plans for air strikes against IS on Friday. |
On Wednesday, the Dutch government said it was deploying six F-16 fighter to join the US-led air campaign. | On Wednesday, the Dutch government said it was deploying six F-16 fighter to join the US-led air campaign. |
Who are Islamic State (IS)? | Who are Islamic State (IS)? |
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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