U.S. military forces and Arab partner nations targeted 12 ISIS-controlled modular oil refineries in eastern Syria on Wednesday, officials said. Coalition forces also took out one vehicle linked to ISIS in the strikes, which involved Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
In a release, the U.S. Central Command said it was "still assessing the outcome of the attack on the refineries," but it had "initial indications that the strikes were successful." Military officials say the "small-scale" refineries, which can be easily transported and assembled, provided fuel to run ISIS operations, revenue to finance continued attacks throughout Iraq and Syria and an "economic asset" to aid future campaigns. ISIS makes an estimated more than $1 million per day in sales of all its black market oil. Local activists told The Associated Press that at least five people were killed in one of the strikes. That report could not immediately be verified by NBC News.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
