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US-led air strikes ‘hit Islamic State bases and oilfields in eastern Syria’ | US-led air strikes ‘hit Islamic State bases and oilfields in eastern Syria’ |
(35 minutes later) | |
Islamic State (Isis) bases and oilfields in the eastern Syrian province of Deir el-Zour have been hit in overnight sorties early on Friday, a monitoring group said. | Islamic State (Isis) bases and oilfields in the eastern Syrian province of Deir el-Zour have been hit in overnight sorties early on Friday, a monitoring group said. |
The strikes were carried out by US-led forces, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict through a network of sources, said. | The strikes were carried out by US-led forces, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict through a network of sources, said. |
US-led forces started bombing Isis militants in northern and eastern Syria on Tuesday. The US has been bombing bases of the al-Qaida splinter group in Iraq since last month. | US-led forces started bombing Isis militants in northern and eastern Syria on Tuesday. The US has been bombing bases of the al-Qaida splinter group in Iraq since last month. |
The Friday morning air strikes hit Isis bases and positions on the outskirts of the city of al-Mayadinm, the group said. | The Friday morning air strikes hit Isis bases and positions on the outskirts of the city of al-Mayadinm, the group said. |
An earlier air strike hit the al-Tanak oilfield area in Deir el-Zoir province, while apparent missile strikes – also thought to be carried out by US-led forces – hit the al-Quriyah area, also in Deir el-Zour, the monitoring group said. | An earlier air strike hit the al-Tanak oilfield area in Deir el-Zoir province, while apparent missile strikes – also thought to be carried out by US-led forces – hit the al-Quriyah area, also in Deir el-Zour, the monitoring group said. |
Deir el-Zour, which borders Iraq, is almost entirely controlled by Isis militants and was a major oil-producing province before Syria’s conflict began more than three years ago. | Deir el-Zour, which borders Iraq, is almost entirely controlled by Isis militants and was a major oil-producing province before Syria’s conflict began more than three years ago. |
Oil has been a top source of revenue for Isis militants, and air raids on Thursday targeted refineries controlled by the group. The strikes also seem to be intended to hamper Isis’s ability to operate across the border in Iraq, where it also controls territory. | |
The observatory said there were casualties from the earlier strikes but did not give details. | The observatory said there were casualties from the earlier strikes but did not give details. |