Operation Tidal Wave II was a US-led coalition military operation beginning on or about 21 October 2015[1] against oil transport, refining and distribution facilities and infrastructure[2] under the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Targets include transport trucks, operated by middlemen, which previously were not usually targeted.[3]

Background

Oil was the largest source of funding for ISIL, representing about half of the group's income.[4] Up to September 2016, ISIL controlled six "key oil fields" in Syria, as well as several oil wells in Iraq.[5]

While oil production and refining facilities have been bombed before, ISIL had been able to quickly repair the damage. The U.S. raid in May 2015 that killed Abu Sayyaf, the "emir" of ISIL's oil production, also obtained extensive documents about the workings of ISIL's oil production and operation.[4] This led to efforts focused on inflicting damage that requires hard-to-get parts or is difficult to repair quickly.[6]

History

In November 2015, the Pentagon released a video showing the use of A-10 and AC-130s in one attack against oil trucks.[7]

On 12 November 2015, The New York Times reported that an email from U.S. military spokesperson Colonel Steven H. Warren said, "We intend to shut it all down."[6] A goal is the reduction by 2/3rds of ISIL oil revenue.[3]

On 16 November 2015, a U.S. Operation Tidal Wave II sortie destroyed 116 ISIL fuel tankers clustered near Abu Kamal, a city on the Syrian border with Iraq. Four A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and two AC-130 Spectre gunships participated in the raid. Before attacking the trucks the planes conducted several low-level, 'show of force' passes.[8]

By late December 2015, Col. Steve Warren announced that airstrikes conducted by the US-led Coalition had destroyed 90% of ISIL's oil production, since the beginning of Operation Tidal Wave II.[9] The Pentagon said that Coalition planes had destroyed about 400 tankers.[10]

On 2 April 2016, the Washington Post reported that more than 200 strikes against oil wells, refineries, pipelines and trucks. U.S. officials said that since the start of the campaign, the Islamic State’s oil production has plummeted, and it has lost both refining capacity and easy access to its black-market dealers in Syria and southern Turkey.[11]

On 7 August 2016, "multiple" coalition warplanes destroyed some 83 oil tankers used by the Islamic State near Albu Kamal. It was not immediately clear if the drivers of the oil tankers in Sunday's raids were forewarned.[10]

Avoidance of civilian casualties

Before Operation Tidal Wave II, attacks against oil transport were generally avoided because of the impact on civilian populations and the possibility of killing civilian truck drivers.[6] To avoid killing civilian truck drivers, the US and its allies are doing low passes with aircraft, dropping warning leaflets and firing warning shots.[1][12] Even with the new rules of engagement, attacks on makeshift refineries, run by civilians, are still off-limits. The U.S. is still attempting to avoid an environmental disaster as well.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Luis Martinez (16 November 2015). "US Warplanes Destroy 116 ISIS Fuel Trucks in Syria". ABC News. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  2. ↑ Robert Burns (23 November 2015). "U.S. steps up attacks on Islamic State oil trucks in Syria". militarytimes.com. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Matthew M. Reed (23 November 2015). "The Fuse - Tidal Wave II: Understanding the Pentagon's New Strategy to Cripple ISIS Oil". The Fuse. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  4. 1 2 Van Heuvelen B (28 December 2015). "Armed with intel, U.S. strikes curtail IS oil sector". Iraq Oil Report. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "ISIS no longer controls any Iraqi oil". www.rudaw.net. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 Michael R. Gordon; Eric Schmitt (12 November 2015). "U.S. Steps Up Its Attacks on ISIS-Controlled Oil Fields in Syria". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  7. ↑ Stephen Losey (19 November 2015). "A-10s and C-130s destroy Islamic State fuel trucks". airforcetimes.com. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  8. ↑ Robert Burns (16 November 2015). "U.S. says it destroyed 116 Islamic State fuel trucks". Military Times. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  9. ↑ Christopher Harress (21 December 2015). "Amid Anti-ISIS Fight, 90% Of Islamic State Oil Destroyed By US-Led Coalition Airstrikes In Syria And Iraq". International Business Times. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Air Raids Destroy Scores Of IS Oil Tankers". Sky News. 8 August 2016.
  11. ↑ Joby Warrick; Liz Sly (2 April 2016). "U.S.-led strikes putting a financial squeeze on the Islamic State". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  12. ↑ "OIR Spokesman: Coalition Cripples ISIL Oil Distribution". defense.gov. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
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