ISIS militants target home, exchange office in Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Militants affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) on Sunday night attacked a house and a foreign currency exchange office in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria.
Local sources told North Press that the attack marked the fifth this month against traders and investors who refused to pay “zakat” to the group.
The sources said the militants used machine guns and hand grenades to target a house and a foreign currency exchange office belonging to the al-Shalouf family in the village of Hawaij, east of Deir ez-Zor, after the owner reportedly refused to comply with the group’s demands.
According to the sources, the attack caused material damage to the property. An exchange of fire reportedly took place between the attackers and those inside the building, forcing the militants to flee the scene.
The sources added that the assailants shouted pro-ISIS slogans during the attack and threatened to return if the family continued to refuse to pay the imposed “zakat.”
Since the beginning of April, ISIS militants have carried out at least five attacks targeting traders and investors in the Deir ez-Zor countryside over their refusal to pay the group.