Reports of infighting within ISIS have increased , prompting some observers to suggest that the group ’s previously strong cohesion is faltering . Abu Sara, a 33-year-old engineer from Iraq, told The Post that ISIS members are becoming disillusioned. The US - led coalition targeting the group and its operations has paid particular attention to its lucrative oil infrastructure and other sources of finance . As a result , ISIS has had to cut salaries , prompting infighting among the group ’s soldiers and its leaders . Some soldiers are reportedly not being paid at all , lessening the group ’s effectiveness . Previously , it had been able to offer higher salaries than people , particularly in Syria , could hope to earn in any other capacity . Without this , morale has dropped and its cohesion is at risk . At the same time , territorial losses are undermining the group , both in terms of its recruitment efforts and because it routinely extorts money from the local governments that fall under its control . Although damaged , the group continues to operate and as one observer noted , ISIS “ still have 60 percent of Syrian oil wells and 5 percent of Iraq ’s . ”
Reports of infighting within ISIS have increased , prompting some observers to suggest that the group ’s previously strong cohesion is faltering . The US - led coalition targeting the group and its operations has paid particular attention to its lucrative oil infrastructure and other sources of finance . As a result , ISIS has had to cut salaries , prompting infighting among the group ’s soldiers and its leaders . Some soldiers are reportedly not being paid at all , lessening the group ’s effectiveness . Previously , it had been able to offer higher salaries than people , particularly in Syria , could hope to earn in any other capacity . Without this , morale has dropped and its cohesion is at risk . At the same time , territorial losses are undermining the group , both in terms of its recruitment efforts and because it routinely extorts money from the local governments that fall under its control . Although damaged , the group continues to operate and as one observer noted , ISIS “ still have 60 percent of Syrian oil wells and 5 percent of Iraq ’s . ”