ISIS terrorists took over $830 Mln. from Iraqi banks since 2014

The militants of the ISIS terrorist group have seized a total of $830 million from the banks in the controlled areas in Iraq, the country’s Central Bank said Tuesday.

“In the light of the recent events, the estimates of the amount money, held in all these banks, are estimated at total of 866 million dinars [approximately $730 million], plus $101 million. Most of these deposits belong to the government… including assets of the defense and interior ministries,” the Central Bank said in a statement, as quoted by the Al-Sumaria broadcaster.

According to the Central Bank, after June 15, 2014, the militants gained control over 121 branches of state-owned and private banks in the Nineveh, Saladin, Diyala and Anbar provinces. The statement added that ISIS earned up to $2 million per day by illegal sale of oil.

“They sell 30,000 barrels of oil per day. The price of ISIS ‘black gold’ was between $25-50 before the decline in oil prices,” the statement said.

The Central Bank added that the measures had been taken to protect the bank sector, including the suspension of the activities of branches, controlled by the terrorists. The Central Bank also prohibited money transfers to these branches.

ISIS jihadists took over Mosul in June 2014, and the operation aimed at liberating the city from the terrorists started in October 2016. The eastern part of the city was liberated by Iraqi and US-led coalition forces in late January, and in February, Iraqi forces began their operation to liberate western Mosul from ISIS.

In 2014, ISIS militants occupied many cities and areas in western and northern Iraq, including Mosul, the country’s second largest city. Since 2015, the Iraqi army, supported by the US-led international coalition as well as Kurdish forces, has managed to retake some territories occupied by Daesh terrorists. On July 10, the Iraqi government announced that Mosul was retaken.

Source: /Sputnik