Daesh Oil Revenue Falls as Group Loses Rich Territory in Iraq

Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament stated that capabilities of the Daesh militant group to receive revenues from the illicit oil have declined, as the terrorists are losing control over the captured territories.

BAGHDAD (Sputnik) – The capabilities of the Daesh militant group to receive revenues from the illicit oil have declined, as the terrorists are losing control over the captured territories, Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament Saleem Jubouri told Sputnik.

"Daesh used [oil] fields to earn money, especially in [the province of] Nineveh and several districts of [the province of] Kirkuk. But following the liberation of a number of districts, Daesh capabilities in this sphere have decreased. Unfortunately, there are people who help Daesh to produce oil and transport it. It is very strange, because anyone could understand what is the main financial resource of the Daesh," Jubouri said.

He added that the Iraqi authorities were monitoring Daesh activities linked to the production of oil, adding that the oil was sold either directly or through mediators.

The Daesh controls large areas in Iraq and in neighboring Syria. The terrorist group, which is banned in Russia and the United States, among others, relies heavily on revenues derived from the black-market sale of smuggled crude oil, drugs and human trafficking.