WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — As Daesh, also known as ISIL/the Islamic State, spreads its terror across the globe, its operations are financed primarily through illegal oil trade. Extracting crude from fields in Iraq and Syria, the terrorist group earns, roughly, $3 million per day.
Earlier this month, Russia presented satellite images which show how that the oil is being sold via smuggling routes through Turkey.
“We’ve talked about this 98 kilometer stretch, which still needs to be closed off because it provides avenues of sustenance for ISIL [Daesh],” Kirby stated. "Yes, they use it for smuggling purposes, particularly oil. They use it to for access to foreign fighters and other supplies."
Ankara, Kirby claimed, realizes the open border is a problem and the United States is working diligently with Turkey to close that gap.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would resign if unquestionable evidence was presented implicating his family in the Islamic State oil business.
On December 2, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia would hand over solid proof of Erdogan’s complicity to the United Nations and all interested countries.
