Article content

BEIRUT – U.S.-led air strikes targeted Syrian oil installations held by the extremist Islamic State group overnight and early Thursday, killing at least 19 people as more families of militants left their key stronghold, fearing further raids, activists said.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or U.S. bombing campaign in Syria targets the Islamic State's golden goose: Oil fields Back to video

The latest strikes came on the third day of a U.S.-led air campaign aimed at rolling back the Islamic State group in Syria, and appeared to be aimed at one of the militants’ main revenue streams. The U.S. has been conducting air raids against the group in neighbouring Iraq for more than a month.

U.S. fighter jets and drones, alongside warplanes from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, struck the refineries in remote parts of the Syrian desert one day after a larger wave of air strikes targeted Islamic State training sites, ammunition depots and command centres in the country, U.S. military officials said. Wednesday’s operation is part of a broader strategy to sever supply lines and transportation corridors connecting Islamic State strongholds in Syria and Iraq, the officials said.