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The US-led coalition warplanes have intensified their air sorties over ISIS-run oil fields in Deir Ezzor province recently in order to cripple a key source of revenue for the group.The coalition jets heavily bombarded various ISIS-held oil fields in Deir Ezzor province recently, including al Omar ,which is a key stronghold for the group,and the Tanak near the city of al Bukamal.To avoid civilian casualties,The coalition warplanes attempted to alert the drivers to impending strikes by dropping fliers directing them to get away from their trucks .
Deir Ezzor 24 correspondent reported that ISIS has relocated some of its oil facilities and equipements from The Tanak and al Omar oil fields to areas near the Iraqi borders following the airstrikes.
Moreover, ISIS has desperately begun collecting its so called old taxes it imposed on local civilians since its first arrival in the province, consequently some observers are saying that this is a clear sign of the dismantlement of ISIS and the collapse of its economic system that is based on taxes imposed on local civilians and oil fields which are significant sources of funding for the group.
On the military level,Syria’s New Army launched its first ground operation on Sunday, targeting ISIS-held border crossing of Al-Tanf, under US-led coalition air cover .Heavy clashes between both parties continued for a while and ended with a number of dead and injured ISIS fighters. After that the Syia’s New Army soldiers withdraw successfully to their positions.
In an unprecedented move a protest was held in the city of al Mayadin in Deir Ezzor province during which the protesters raised and waved the flag of the Syrian revolution shouting,”long live the FSA” and ”down with ISIS”, therefore; ISIS police rushed to the area to lower and burn the flag and replace it with the group’s black one.It is worth mentioning that a similar event took place in AlbuKamal city two days ago ,which points out to an evident sign of the growing discontent of Deir Ezzor’s residents with the brutal rule of ISIS.