ISIS attacks oil tanker in Deir ez-Zor over refusal to pay zakat
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Militants of the Islamic State (ISIS) attacked on Tuesday an oil tanker in the northern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, after its owner reportedly refused to pay Zakat (a form of Islamic tax) demanded by the group.
A local source told North Press that ISIS militants riding a motorcycle targeted a tanker owned by Ahmad al-Toub near the town of Ruwayshid, approximately 91 kilometers north of Deir ez-Zor.
The attack left the driver injured, caused the cargo to spill, and resulted in severe damage to the tanker.
The assailants fled into the desert while chanting slogans in support of ISIS.
According to the source, al-Toub had received several threats from ISIS in recent weeks for refusing to comply with the group’s demands for Zakat payments.
The incident highlights the contained presence of ISIS sleeper cels in the Deir ez-Zor countryside, where attacks on civilians, traders, and oil transporters remain a persistent security concern.
Reporting by Omar Abdurrahman