ISIS attacks house, bakery in Deir ez-Zor over ‘zakat’
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Suspected members of the Islamic State (ISIS) on Wednesday night carried out two attacks targeting a house and a bakery in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria after their owners allegedly refused to pay “zakat” to the group.
A local source told North Press that ISIS gunmen attacked the house of Khalil al-Mizar, an owner of an informal oil refinery site in the town of Diban, southeast of Deir ez-Zor, using automatic weapons.
Clashes reportedly broke out between the attackers and people inside the house before the assailants withdrew, leaving material damage to the property.
In a separate incident, ISIS members targeted the automatic bakery in the village of Hawaij in the same area. The attack caused only material damage. The bakery owner later received a message threatening to burn the facility if “zakat” payments were not made.
The source said that ISIS sleeper cells have recently increased activity in the area, exploiting residents’ fear and reluctance to report threats, leaving civilians with little choice between compliance and refusal.
On Wednesday, ISIS also claimed responsibility for an attack on a Syrian army member in Aleppo northern countryside, marking the group’s third claimed operation this month.