U.S. air strikes target oil refineries controlled by Islamic State in Syria

DAMASCUS, Syria, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- U.S. air strikes targeted 12 oil refineries being used by Islamic State militants in eastern Syria in an effort to halt funding to the terror group.

The small refineries, which were bombed Wednesday in the first round of strikes in Syria, provided up to $2 million per day for the Sunni extremist group, Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, told CNN.

"We are still assessing the outcome of the attack on the refineries, but have initial indications that the strikes were successful," U.S. Central Command said in a statement. "These small-scale refineries provided fuel to run ISIL operations, money to finance their continued attacks ... and an economic asset to support their future operations."

The bombing came after the U.N. Security Council voted to focus on choking the finances of terrorists and halting their abilities to cross borders.

The Islamic State — also known by the acronyms IS, ISIS and ISIL — makes most of its money through oil smuggling, robberies, ransoms, extortion and taxing local communities.

Some 160 bombs and missiles were fired in Syria by the United States and its allies, causing extensive damage and killing some IS and Khorasan members.