ISIS attacks oil tanker in Deir ez-Zor for refusal to pay Zakat
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Sleeper cells of the Islamic State (ISIS) attacked on Monday an oil tanker in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, reportedly after its owner refused to pay Zakat (Islamic tax) to the group.
A local source from the village of Hawaij, east of Deir ez-Zor, said ISIS militants riding motorcycles opened fire with machine guns on a tanker owned by Saber al-Haboush near the Hawaij desert.
The attack caused the tanker’s cargo to spill and left the vehicle severely damaged, the source added.
The source indicated that al-Haboush had recently received multiple threats via WhatsApp from ISIS members, warning him over his refusal to comply with their demands.
This incident follows a similar attack on Sep. 6, when ISIS militants targeted two other oil tankers in Deir ez-Zor under the same pretext of non-payment of Zakat.
Since the beginning of the week, ISIS has carried out three armed attacks in the region, targeting a total of four oil tankers.
Although ISIS was declared territorially defeated in 2019 following the fall of its last stronghold in Baghouz, the group continues to wage a low-level insurgency in eastern Syria. Sleeper cells remain active in the Deir ez-Zor countryside, exploiting tribal tensions, economic hardship, and weak security to extort money through Zakat, kidnappings, and attacks on civilians and infrastructure.
Oil tankers and facilities have been frequent targets, as the group seeks both financial resources and a means to pressure local communities into compliance. The region remains one of the most volatile in Syria, with recurring ISIS attacks against civilians, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and local notables accused of cooperating with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).