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Long suspected, a U.S. official confirmed the transfer of oil from ISIS territory in Syria and Iraq to Turkey, and from there for sale to Western markets.

On 4 December, Amos Hochstein, the US special envoy and coordinator for the Bureau of Energy Resources at the State Department confirmed rumors about ISIS black market petrol operations.

Speaking to Agence France Presse, Hochstein downplayed the scope of sales saying “oil being smuggled is extremely low and has decreased over time and is of no significance from a volume perspective — both volume of oil and volume of revenue.”

But ultimately ISIS capabilities are greatly compounded by their lucrative sale of oil. As the West continues attempts at containment, the ISIS is funding its operations against the West through oil sales to some of the very same countries.

The US State Department claims that the low volume sales are worth somewhere between 1 and 1.5 million dollars a day, however news sources estimate profits as high as 2 million. Russian media places the number at 8 million dollars a day.

A report by news site al-Araby al-Jadeed traced the extensive international network of black market oil, originating in ISIS controlled areas. Originating in ISIS oil from fields in Iraq and Syria, through Turkey with false labeling, then to Turkish ports for sale to countries like Israel.

Having recently become involved in Syria with an airstrike campaign backing Assad, Russia is agitating the US and allies, especially Turkey. The US and Turkey are partners in supporting the Syrian opposition.

Citing the report, Russia claims that Turkey is a main consumer of black market oil derived from ISIS. Tensions are on the rise between the two countries, especially with the recent downing of a Russian fighter jet by Turkish forces. Turkey claims the jet was in Turkish airspace, Russia says it never left Syrian air.

The US and NATO allies have continuously asked that Turkey do better to secure its long border with Syria, though Turkey has taken minimal action.

In addition to the oil trade, the Turkish Syria border is favored for travel by fighters wishing to join ISIS, as well as drugs and weapons.

The US has been hesitant to directly accuse Turkish president Erdogan of purchasing oil from ISIS, in a calculated effort to maintain good relations with the country. Turkey is of exemplary strategic importance to NATO, serving as a launching pad for US, British and French airstrikes on targets in Syria and Iraq. In fact, the US has long played down Turkish aggression in the region, particularly in its conflict with the Kurds.

Erdogan is also complicit in a litany of civil rights and press violations, as well as for taking draconian measures against Turkish dissenters.

The accusations of ISIS oil sales through Turkey will eventually prove true or false, but the truth is until Western and Asian dependence on oil is addressed, profit motive will trump international diplomacy.