Islamic State cells impose levy on oil investors in northeastern Syria
Islamic State cells are imposing levies on oil investors who have been contracted to work in oil fields in agreement with the controlling forces in northeastern Syria, as a share of the oil investment in a bid to finance their activities.
Islamic State operatives stormed Dec. 15 into the Syrian Democratic Forces-affiliated Subaihan oil field in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor province and threatened to kill the field workers if the investors did not pay a fine for oil production, which amounts to about 20% of the oil production.
On Dec. 3, an IS explosive device targeted a bus carrying workers on their way back home in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor from the Kharata oil field, located 20 kilometers (12 miles) southwest of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria, which is controlled by the Syrian government. The attack killed 10 people and wounded others.
Al-Sharqiya 24 network reported Oct. 29 that IS operatives stormed into the Abu Habba oil field in the northern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, after requesting oil investors to pay them a share of the oil investment in the field.
