Close allies of the United States and the UK secretly finance the terrorist group Islamic State (ISIL). The Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq and the Turkish military intelligence have supported ISIL’s oil smuggling activities and supplied the terrorist group with weapons and equipment, DWN reported.
Oil smuggling is one of the main financial resources for ISIL. The terrorist group controls about 60 percent of Syria's oil production and seven major oil fields in Iraq.
However, both the Turkish and the Kurdish government officially deny any connection to ISIL’s oil smuggling activities. Both governments are said to have taken corresponding measures to stop oil smuggling, supported by the US and British governments.
However, widespread corruption in political circles practically brought these efforts to a naught, investigative journalist Nafeez Ahmed reported to MiddleEastEye.
According to the official, Turkey tolerates ISIL’s oil black market as well, with the US silently watching these activities.
"The Americans know what's going on. But Erdogan and Obama have a good relationship with each other. Erdogan makes basically what he wants and the United States has to agree with it,” the official said.
Even British corporations are reported to be involved in the business of the Islamists. The Anglo-Turkish oil company Genel Energy closely linked to a group of British parliamentarians has reportedly received an order to supply the refineries for the Kurdish energy company Group Nokan. The latter is suspected of supporting ISIL’s illegal oil sales to Turkey, DWN reported.
