ISIS takes over Syria's largest oil field, Nusra ousted

Published July 3rd, 2014 - 12:56 GMT
Al Qaeda-linked Nusra fighters were allegedly in control of the oil field before ISIS seized it Thursday (File Archive/AFP)
Al Qaeda-linked Nusra fighters were allegedly in control of the oil field before ISIS seized it Thursday (File Archive/AFP)

The jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) has allegedly taken over control of Syria's largest oil field, according to the Associated Press Thursday.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told AP that ISIS seized the Al Omar oil field in the Deir Ezzor province Thursday. 

The Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, who allegedly controlled the field along with several other Islamist groups since November, left the field and other areas under its control to ISIS "without firing a bullet," reported the Observatory. 

The oil field, which lies on the Syria-Iraq border has been in control of various groups since the start of Syria's conflict over three years ago. Regime forces controlled the field until November last year.