Isis fighters' pay halved 'because of low oil prices'

Media outlets in the Balkans said that many foreign fighters are defecting in light of the cuts.

Hazel Sheffield
Friday 12 February 2016 16:09 GMT
Comments
Isis was selling oil near the pump for between $20-35 per barrel to middlemen, who could sell it on for between $60-100 per barrel
Isis was selling oil near the pump for between $20-35 per barrel to middlemen, who could sell it on for between $60-100 per barrel

It’s not only massive oil companies Shell and BP that have been forced to cut jobs because of low oil prices.

Now even Isis fighters are feeling the pinch.

Leaked documents appear to show that Isis is cutting salaries for its foreign fighters by up to 50 per cent because of the “jihad of wealth” and the “jihad of soul”.

Documents purporting to be from the Isis “treasury department”, or the Bayt Mal al-Muslimeen, posted online said: “On account of the exceptional circumstances the Islamic State is facing, it has been decided to reduce the salaries that are paid to all mujahideen by half.

“It is not allowed for anyone to be exempted from this decision, whatever his position.”

Those “exceptional circumstances” are reported to be continued air strikes of Syria-based Isis oil operations and low oil prices..

Foreign fighters were previously paid double their local counterparts, Oilprice.com has reported. The wage cut brings their pay in line with local fighters.

Media outlets in the Balkans, where many Middle Eastern fighters reportedly came from, said that many foreign fighters are defecting in light of the cuts

A report by the Financial Action Task Force in 2015 said that Isis profits from its control of large oil fields in eastern Syria and western and northern Iraq.

The report said that, as well as using petrol and selling it to local customers, Isis was selling oil near the pump for between $20-35 per barrel to middlemen, who could sell it on for between $60-100 per barrel.

The price of oil has fallen from $100 a barrel in 2015 to around $30, making that sort of mark-up unlikely in 2016.

Air strikes involving the UK also been targeting Isis-controlled airfields, to try and cut off supply.

Isis has other revenue streams. It is reported to have taken control of hundreds of millions of dollars in a 2014 raid on an Iraqi bank.

But as the leaked document appears to show, it is not immune from changes to global markets.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in