Abu Okruma al-Anbari, an Iraqi responsible for the ISIS financial affairs in central Raqqa, has reportedly fled the ISIS’ de facto capital with his family earlier on Thursday.
“Al-Anbari robbed the main Bank in Raqqa before escaping,” local media activist Taim Khalil said, citing an ISIS official.
“Sources in the bank confirmed that more than $3 million were missing from the bank after al-Anbari evacuated his office and fled to an unknown destination,” Khalil reported.
Eyewitnesses reported a state of alert among ISIS militants in Raqqa downtown subsequent to al-Anbari’s escape.
“The incident was a new blow to ISIS, as the group already suffers from a financial crisis, especially after the Syrian forces captured main border crossings on the Syrian-Turkish borderline, such as Manbij and Tel Abyad, preventing the group from selling crude oil at the blackmarket,” Syrian journalist Anas Halwani said.
“ISIS may soon be unable to fund its military operations in Raqqa, the group’s de facto capital in Syria,” Halwani said, ARA News reported.
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