Fighter Sweep
  • Home
  • Military Aviation
  • Air Force
  • Navy
  • Spec Ops
  • Expert Analysis
  • Careers
  • Photos
Home Previous Post Next Post
Follow @fightersweep

A-10’s Lead in Largest ISIL Oil Strike This Year

August 10, 2016
FighterSweep Staff 4 Comments Military Aviation

U.S.-led coalition aircraft destroyed an estimated $11 million worth of oil and trucks. It is the largest single airstrike this year against the Islamic State’s black market oil trade in Syria.

Coalition forces continue to hit petroleum and oil targets in Syria in an effort to disrupt the Islamic State’s cash flow. An estimated 83 oil tankers were destroyed in the effort. Sunday’s attack, led by A-10 Warthogs and F-16’s, shows that ISIL made a mistake by having such a large convoy in the open. The US feels it is making a dent in ISIL’s black oil trade.

“You’re going to have multiple effects from this one strike,” Air Force Lt. Gen, Jeffrey Harrigian, commander in the Middle East, said Tuesday. “We’ll have to see what this does to their ability to generate fighters.”

The attacks occurred in the Deir ez-Zor province, a key oil-producing region in Syria.

Taking away the Islamic State’s ability to generate revenue from selling black market oil has long been a tactic of US and coalition forces. The bombing campaign began two years ago and has resulted in the destruction of over 600 tanker trucks and other infrastructure. Being able to Hit 83 trucks in one attack is a telling mistake for ISIL.

“This is a very good indication that they’re having trouble commanding and controlling their forces,” Harrigian told USA TODAY in a telephone interview from his headquarters in Qatar.

With more than $1 million generated in oil revenue per day at its peak, the Islamic State had money to buy  equipment and weaponry, pay current fighters in the force, and recruit additional fighters to the effort. The US and its coalition partners hope to quell any possibility of ISIL expansion plans by cutting off funding through the destruction of “black” oil.

However, coalition pilots do fire warning shots at the oil convoys to signal an attack is imminent.

“We’ll do that … to give them a chance to run,” Harrigian said.

You can read Jim Michaels full story here.

 

Related Posts

  • New U.S. Airstrikes Target Daesh Fuel TrucksNew U.S. Airstrikes Target Daesh Fuel Trucks
  • Dutch Vipers Rarely Used Over SyriaDutch Vipers Rarely Used Over Syria
  • 31st Fighter Wing Deploys to Turkey31st Fighter Wing Deploys to Turkey
  • How scary is the Russian S-400 SAM?How scary is the Russian S-400 SAM?
  • Iraq Joins the Air Fight in Syria for the First Time (Actual Video Footage)Iraq Joins the Air Fight in Syria for the First Time (Actual Video Footage)

Find Us on Facebook

FighterSweep.com

Sign Up
for the Newsletter

What’s Hot

  • June 12, 2016

    The F-22 Raptor: Back From the Grave?

  • p-40-sahara-desert
    May 19, 2017

    Aircraft Lost in Time: Story of WWII P40 Found in Desert After 70 Years

  • Operation Desert Storm: 25 Years Later
    January 17, 2016

    Operation Desert Storm: 25 Years Later

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Twitter

Recent Comments

  • Vicki Fast forward to 2019 where there are dozens of class action lawsuits against [...]
  • Paul James Thanks Vicki
  • Skyler Conklin Not according to those who have actually operated it.
  • Jimmy Crackcorn he was likely chasing Jupiter, as UFOs that don't wish to be seen will turn off [...]

© Copyright 2021 SOFREP Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers