Facing tough times, Islamic State group forced to cut militant salaries

The Islamic State group (ISIS) is being forced to cut militant salaries by half as a result of “exceptional circumstances.”

According to a leaked Islamic State document, obtained and translated by ISIS expert and blogger Aymenn Jawed al-Tamimi, the terrorist group is facing some tough times and was forced to make the cuts.

“So on account of the exceptional circumstances the Islamic State is facing, it has been decided to reduce the salaries that are paid to all mujahideen by half, and it is not allowed for anyone to be exempted from this decision, whatever his position,” reads the translated document. “Let it be known that work will continue to distribute provisions twice every month as usual.”

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Citing local sources on the ground, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said some militants fear the cuts came as a desire to raise the wages of “Arab and foreigner fighters at the expense of the local fighters.”

The observatory also noted that “a situation of resentment prevails among the Syrian” fighters and some have been forced to borrow money.

Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told Agence France-Presse (AFP), militants would see their pay drop to about $200US and foreign fighters would receive about $400.

The cuts could be the result of intensified air strikes on oil infrastructure in Syria and Iraq, AFP reported.

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On Wednesday, the United States and its allies agreed to ramp up the campaign against ISIS, while Canada still has plans to end its combat mission.