Despite fighting against Syria, Russia, Iran, Hezbollah and Cuba (in the last few hours), the Islamic State is able to produce between 34 and 40 thousand barrels of crude oil per day. Translated into revenues: 1,5 million dollars a day. And although for some they are enemies, it is practically impossible not to do business with the Islamic State in the Region.
Shocking revelations those gathered by Financial Times, on trade relations in force in Syria. If on the one hand there is a struggle to free Aleppo from the Islamic State, on the other there are real trade exchanges between warring factions in the outskirts of the city. And the rebels, who buy fuel at more than three-fold prices, have no choice because in Syria they wouldn't know who to get it from.
The Islamic State controls the oil fields of al-Jabsah and al-Omar in eastern Syria as well as all the wells of northern Iraq obtained with the conquest of Mosul. In just ten months the Islamic State has extracted oil from Iraqi fields for a value of 450 million dollars. And those who live under the black flag of the caliphate have no choice but to buy the fuel, without which they would remain without electricity and water. Without fuel, everything would stop.
"The simple supply of vehicles can take up to a month. The Islamic State schedules the distribution of fuel, but the ranks of those waiting are up to four miles. "
The Islamic State is well aware of the importance of oil and has also started a sort of recruiting.
"Experienced engineers and technicians are approached by the Islamic State to work within the oil fields. They offer them an excellent salary, health care and various bonuses, unthinkable for ordinary people ”.
Yet the accounts do not add up. Although the West is well aware of the use of oil reserves, little or nothing has been done to undermine the infrastructure necessary for production. It should be noted a fact: of the 10.600 coalition air strikes since August of the 2014, less than 200 have been directed against the oil facilities of the Islamic State. Why?
