US Air Strikes Destroy 116 ISIS Fuel Trucks in Syria
U.S.-led air strikes destroyed 116 fuel trucks operated by the Islamic State militant group in Syria on Sunday.
A Pentagon spokesperson said the attack "was part of that strategy to start degrading their financial ability," according to AFP. The trucks were being filled up at a loading area and were about to depart when they were hit. The spokesperson said they were all destroyed at once with just one air strike.
U.S.-led air strikes have targeted this area before, according to a coalition official. The coalition usually targets ISIS trucks, but has never hit so many at one time. They launched the first air strike on ISIS-held oil infrastructure last year.
Last month, the U.S. promised to be more aggressive in its air strikes when targeting oil owned by the Islamic State. Selling oil on the black market is one of the most important sources of income for the Islamic State, generating about $500 million per year for the the jihadist group.
The U.S.-led military coalition came together in a Combined Joint Task Force leading the operations in Syria and Iraq. Additionally, six air strikes near three Syrian cities hit several fighting positions, according to a statement released on Tuesday.
There were 17 strikes in Iraq near six cities that hit several targets, including roads, tactical units, militant fighting positions and a headquarters in Sinjar.
Meanwhile, the Islamic State vowed to attack Washington D.C. following the recent bombing in a Paris stadium that, along with several other simultaneous attacks, claimed the lives of 129 people and injured nearly 400.
A militant, identified as Al Ghareeb the Algerian, threatened the U.S. in an 11-minute video clip that also showed news coverage of the Paris attacks.
"We say to the states that take part in the crusader campaign that, by God, you will have a day, God willing, like France's and by God, as we struck France in the center of its abode in Paris, then we swear that we will strike America at its center in Washington," the militant said.
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