Suspected ISIS militants target oil tanker in Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Suspected Islamic State (ISIS) militants opened fire on Thursday on an oil tanker in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria.
According to a local source, the attack occurred in the desert near the village of al-Hejjnah in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor in retaliation for the owner’s refusal to pay zakat (Islamic alms).
Two armed men on a motorcycle ambushed the tanker, which belonged to Kamal al-Munif, a contractor working in the oil sector.
“The attackers used a machine gun to target the vehicle, causing the oil cargo to spill and inflicting damage to the tanker,” the source told North Press. “The driver managed to flee unharmed.”
According to the source, the attack was motivated by al-Munif’s refusal to pay zakat to ISIS. It marks the second time he has been targeted by the group since the beginning of the year.