News Digest

U.S. hits Islamic State oil targets in Syria, vows to keep up assault

The U.S.-led coalition has targeted oil refineries in Syria during a third night of air strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants. It comes after the United Nations Security Council adopted a binding resolution compelling states to prevent their nationals joining jihadists in Iraq and Syria. The raids - carried out by U.S., Saudi and UAE aircraft - killed 14 IS fighters and five civilians in eastern Syria, activists said. The U.S. military said the refineries generated as much as $2 million per day in revenue for IS. Earlier on Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama, speaking at the United Nations, vowed an extended assault and called on the world to join in.

The United States of America will work with a broad coalition to dismantle this network of death.

U.S. President Barack Obama

IS controls several oilfields in Syria and Iraq and sales of smuggled crude oil have helped finance its offensive in both countries. The U.S. military said the fresh air strikes, using fighter jets and drones, hit “small-scale” refineries that were producing “between 300-500 barrels of refined petroleum per day”. Speaking at the U.N., British Prime Minister David Cameron said the UK was ready to “play its part” in fighting Islamic State, which he called an “evil against which the whole world must unite”. The UK Parliament will be recalled on Friday to discuss Britain’s possible role in air strikes on IS targets. Meanwhile, Cyprus has launched a rescue mission for 300 people, thought to be Syrian refugees, stranded off the island’s west coast, 100km from Paphos. Most of the people on the small fishing boat are believed to be women and children.