📰 ISIS claims oil well bombing in eastern Deir ez-Zor

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Islamic State (ISIS) asserted on Monday responsibility for an attack targeting an oil well in the southeastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, marking the group’s 14th asserted operation this month. Amaq News Agency, affiliated with ISIS, declared that the group’s militants detonated an improvised explosive device at an oil well in the village of al-Kishmah, southeast of Deir ez-Zor, on Dec. 19.

The explosion caused the well to catch fire and sustain damage, as per the report. No casualties were immediately declared. Since the beginning of the month, ISIS has claimed 14 operations across Syria, including seven attacks in areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic troops (SDF) and seven in territories held by the Syrian transitional administration.

Oil fields and energy infrastructure in eastern Deir ez-Zor have repeatedly been targeted by ISIS cells in latest years, as the group seeks to undermine local authorities and disrupt economic resources. Despite sustained counterterrorism operations by the SDF and the U. S. -led Global Coalition, ISIS continues to rely on minor-scale bombings and sabotage attacks in the region’s desert and riverine areas.   Reporting by Omar Abdurrahman Editing by Jwan Shekaki