Iraqi warplanes destroy Daesh oil convoy in Nineveh province

The Iraqi Air Force has destroyed a Daesh oil convoy in the northern Nineveh province, a blow to stem the Takfiri terrorist group’s oil sales.

On Friday, Iraqi warplanes targeted 20 tanker trucks, loaded with crude oil, in the Qayyarah oilfield, located on the west bank of the Tigris river, Arabic-language al-Sumeria news website reported, citing an unnamed security source in the province.

According to the report, the airstrikes completely destroyed the convoy and caused a huge fire, whose thick and black smoke darkened the sky. At least eight terrorists were killed in the attack and eight others sustained injuries.

The IHS Conflict Monitor reported on Monday that 43 percent of Daesh’s revenues are from oil trade, and the rest come from taxation, confiscation of businesses and property, drug smuggling, ransom, and the sale of electricity.

Russia has repeatedly said it has evidence showing Turkey was involved in the smuggling of oil from areas held by Daesh in Iraq and Syria. It also says that some 2,000 oil tank trucks belonging to Daesh have been destroyed by Russian warplanes since the start of Russia’s anti-terror operations in Syria in late September.

“After our Aerospace Forces initiated the operation to terminate the illegal traffic, particularly of oil and oil products, from Syria … to Turkey, this traffic has decreased substantially,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on March 23.

Israel, which is itself believed to be supporting Daesh in the region, has also said that Ankara has been providing money to the terror group through purchasing illegal oil from it.

“As you know, Daesh enjoyed Turkish money for oil for a very, very long period of time,” Israeli minister for military affairs Moshe Yaalon told reporters in the Greek capital of Athens on January 26.

Ankara, however, has strongly rejected the allegation.

Last December, the Security Council adopted a resolution aimed at clogging up the revenue stream of Daesh. It threatened sanctions on parties buying oil from the terrorist group, and advised that countries resist its demands for ransom payments.

Gruesome violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh terrorists launched an offensive in June 2014, and took control of portions of the Iraqi territory, including Mosul, the second largest city of Iraq and the provincial capital of Nineveh.

The militants have been committing heinous crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, and Christians. Iraqi army soldiers and fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Units are seeking to win back militant-held regions in joint operations.