Islamic State crisis: Coalition bombs Syria refineries

[webfact]

Islamic State crisis: Coalition bombs Syria refineries

(BBC) US-led coalition aircraft have targeted four makeshift oil refineries under Islamic State (IS) control in Syria, as well as a command centre.

Early indications were that the attacks by US, Saudi and UAE planes were successful, US Central Command said.

Explosions at a refinery at Tel Abyad, near the Turkish border, lit up the night sky, an eyewitness watching from across the frontier said.

Meanwhile further fighting was reported in the besieged border town of Kobane.

A resident in the town, which has been under attack from Islamic State for more than a week, told the BBC that five shells had fallen there and two over the border in Turkey.

There was no repetition on Sunday of coalition air strikes on IS positions in the area, where Syrian Kurd fighters have been holding out against the militants.

The IS advance in the area sent about 140,000 civilians fleeing towards Turkey.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29401848

-- BBC 2014-09-29

[SOTIRIOS]

...a bit excessive...wouldn't you say.....

....I've heard of bullying...but this is ridiculous.....

[Ulysses G.]

The point of a war is too win it. What is "excessive" about degrading the enemies' financial support?

[coma]

Estimates are IS is getying US$2 million per day from these refineries. Sold mostly inside Turkey. Definately legit targets.

[chadillac666]

let em burn!!!

[quicky]

...a bit excessive...wouldn't you say.....

....I've heard of bullying...but this is ridiculous.....

Coalition: bomb oil tanks

IS: Brutally killing thousands

Yup we can sure see your point...not

[BATHIK]

It's a good idea to go after IS sources of financing but those "makeshift" refineries are called makeshift for a reason, too. Some of them are no more complex than moonshine distilleries and are meant to supply fuel to IS vehicles. They, reportedly, have hundreds of those and most of the time they are not operational, they turn them on only when the IS is actually there.

This is what they looked like in Chechnya:

It's also not clear how IS would respond to losing their sources of income. Can they rebuild their oil smuggling capacity faster than the US can destroy it? Will it means more raids on the neighboring territories instead? How much does IS depend on this type of infrastructure in their war?

The idea behind this type of campaign is to play on government's responsibility before its citizens, that they would not allow total destruction of their infrastructure and rather change their political course (give in to "state terrorism"?). Will this argument work on IS?

Like that W Clark's interview posted somewhere here today: "If you all you have is a hammer then every problem must look like a nail." IS isn't your typical nail, we have to wait until Arabs engaged them on the ground to estimate how this conflict would develop.

[Publicus]

It's military strategy to destroy the enemy's infrastructure and this kind of offensive campaign by the U.S. comprises a package deal.

This kind of mission shreds yet another couple of pages in the IS accounts receivable ledger.

It further deprives IS of yet another fistful of income which over time becomes cumulative.

It strikes effectively against IS transportation capabilities by reducing available petrol/gas while other strikes destroy IS vehicles, making it a long walk for IS to wherever they plan to go next or to be. Transport vehicles not only deliver fighters but also vital supplies, so as the sources and supply of petrol are diminished along with a cumulative destruction of IS vehicles so too is the IS fighting capability.

This character of mission demonstrates to the locals that the U.S. led coalition has a strategic military plan, that the strategy is aggressive, effective, continuing. It gives coalition forces and support units a clear mission, sense of accomplishment and identifiable progress all of which are vital morale factors affecting efficiency and effectiveness.

And with no U.S. large regular combat units maneuvering on the ground, it precludes the U.S. military from being subjected to the same kinds of assaults to include IED weapons. If Gen Dempsey and the JCS get to pursue proper military strategy and tactics, the 15,000 of U.S. boots that eventually do hit the ground in Iraq will go in as planned, which will be to clean up and to control territory rather than to engage in major offensive combat operations.

Once voters back home see a wisely and prudently executed military strategy of air-sea battle succeeding, using limited ground forces only to occupy, it won't be so tough to get those boots on the ground, while public confidence can be restored to both the civilian leaders and the military commanders in the Pentagon and at U.S. Central Command which is conducting the operation.

People who think or believe the U.S. hasn't learned any lessons from ME combat operations need to go hide and watch as this one unfolds.

Edited by Publicus for typos.

Edited September 29, 2014 by Publicus

[HUAHIN62]

If Turkey don't buy the oil and don't allow it to go through their country the IS will be cut off. I also thought Turkey wanted to become a member of NATO, how come they allow the illegal oil trade in their country?

[BATHIK]

Oil smugglers do not apparently care for Nato. Kurds smuggle for IS as well.

Let's see how it goes and what effect it has on IS will and capacity to fight.

If the US and its allies feel the sense of accomplishment after flying hundreds of sorties to destroy a dozen pickup trucks, good for them.

There were times when armies fought wars against armies, not infrastructure.

[halloween]

Oil smugglers do not apparently care for Nato. Kurds smuggle for IS as well.

Let's see how it goes and what effect it has on IS will and capacity to fight.

If the US and its allies feel the sense of accomplishment after flying hundreds of sorties to destroy a dozen pickup trucks, good for them.

There were times when armies fought wars against armies, not infrastructure.

This would be before the invention of the ballista, catapult and trebuchet?

[cloudhopper]

The bombing campaign is already getting results -

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/29/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKCN0HO0EV20140929

[mutha289]

...a bit excessive...wouldn't you say.....

....I've heard of bullying...but this is ridiculous.....

Of course there's nothing excessive from ISIS, it's not like they are committing mass executions or beheading innocents!!!