The US military has released footage and still photos of its air strikes on oil refineries controlled by Islamic State (IS) militants in eastern Syria.

The raids, carried out by US, Saudi and UAE aircraft, targeted 12 refineries in Syria on a third night of air strikes against the militants.

IS has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria in recent months.

Sales of smuggled crude oil have helped finance its offensive in both countries.

The US has launched nearly 200 air strikes against the militants in Iraq since August and on Monday began targeting IS in Syria.
'Not over'

Footage released by the US Department of Defense on Thursday showed an overnight US air strike on the Jeribe refinery. Still images also showed the aftermath of this strike, and another attack on the Gbiebe refinery.

The strikes hit "small-scale" refineries that were producing "between 300-500 barrels of refined petroleum per day", the Pentagon said.

Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said the purpose of the strikes was "not necessarily to kill militants" but to destroy the facilities, which were funding IS through the black market.

He said that the strikes had been effective but not yet decisive: "Even after the hits they've taken, and they have been hit, they still have financing at their fingertips.

"They still have plenty of volunteers. They still have plenty of weapons and vehicles and the ability to move around."

It was, the Pentagon spokesman said, too soon to talk of "winning" against IS.

Rear Adm Kirby said that he was aware of reports that five civilians had been killed alongside 14 IS militants and the Pentagon was investigating.

Ten fighters from the UAE and Saudi Arabia joined six US jets to carry out Wednesday night's strikes, according to the US military.

BBC