There is no real success in the fight against Daesh without cutting its channels of financing, according to Russia's Defense Ministry.
“The Russian Aerospace Forces target enemy oil storage, refining and transportation facilities. During the last two months Russian aircraft carried out airstrikes against 32 oil refinery complexes, 11 oil refineries and 23 oil pumping stations. We also managed to destroy 1080 oil tanker trucks. These measures effectively halved the illegal oil production output in Syria,” Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said.
The number of oil tanker trucks from Daesh (also known as the Islamic State) and whose activities are banned in Russia, has considerably decreased since the beginning of Russian Aerospace Forces airstrikes, the head of the Russian General Staff’s operative command said Wednesday.
"At least 1,722 fuel trucks along roadside parking areas have been discovered using equipment from the [Russian] space reconnaissance. It should be noted that since the beginning of airstrikes by Russian airplanes against facilities of the oil infrastructure in the hands of the Daesh, the number of fuel trucks at parking areas has considerably decreased," Sergei Rudskoy noted.
Russia conducts airstrikes on an oil refinery in Syria.
Conservative estimates have showen the terrorists' daily oil revenue has fallen from $3 million to $1.5 million following Russia's airstrikes.
Russia has been carrying out an air campaign in the Arab republic at the request of the Syrian leadership since September 30.
The General Staff headquarters chief provided space surveillance photographs demonstrating that Daesh currently transports up to 200,000 barrels of oil for processing to third-party countries including Turkey.
Rudskoy further pledged that comprehensive information detailing Daesh-controlled oil facilities in Syria would be published on the Russian Defense Ministry website after the briefing.
Airstrike on an oil storage near the Maarrat al-Nu'man city in Syria
Airstrike on an oil storage near the Al-Thawrah city in Syria
Photo: an oil storage facility near Khafsa Kabir (top left), an oil storage facility near al-Thawrah (top right), an oil refinery near Khafsa Kabi (bottom left), an oil storage facility near Maarrat al-Nu'man (bottom right).
Results of Russian airstrikes on oil refinery and storage targets (center). Hit: 32 oil refining complexes, 11 oil refineries, 23 oil pumping stations; Destroyed: 1,080 oil tankers. Illegal oil trade fell by 50%. Daily revenue is down from $3 million to $1.5 million.
