ISIS attacks an oil field in the Syrian Desert as Syrian Democratic Forces and U.S.-led coalition launch large anti-terror operation

DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria – Islamic State (ISIS) activity has become more frequent in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria, especially in the Syrian Desert, or Badia.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) stated that ISIS launched an attack on the Azraq well of the Al-Tanak oil field in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor on Wednesday. Elements of an ISIS cells managed to set fire to the oil tanks and wells and assaulted the employees, demanding them to pay Zakat, or tribute money.

Earlier in the week, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) arrested a suspected ISIS member in the town of Al-Basira near Deir ez-Zor on charges of collecting Zakat money from citizens to support ISIS cells.

Local reports on Wednesday evening indicate a large-scale operation by the SDF and its partners in the U.S.-led International Coalition was launched yesterday in and around Deir ez-Zor to combat ISIS as well as local criminal gangs and groups informally affiliated with the Syrian regime and Iran.