The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) continues to make major gains in eastern Syria today, taking the largest oil field in Syria, al-Omar, after a major fight with rival al-Qaeda faction Jabhat al-Nusra.
Thr al-Omar field has seen production drop to around 20,000 barrels per day, but remains Syria’s largest, and also its most significant source of natural gas for energy generation.
Nusra took the field in November, but lost it in these new battles. They also lost the nearby towns of Mayadin and Shuhail to ISIS as well, with the local tribes agreeing to back ISIS.
The takeover adds to ISIS control over the Deir Ezzor Province, which apart from a handful of towns and one military afield has entirely fallen to rebels, mostly ISIS.
It is important that the ISIS gains in Iraq are not at the expense of important gains in Syria. ISIS is too small to be doing both on its own, much less threatening Jordan and Lebanon too. There is much hidden behind the smoke screen of "ISIS" blamed for all of this.