Basic salary of IS rebels is only 50 USD

The basic salary of an employee like al-Jiburi is very cheap, only 50 USD, and the Islamic State (IS) organization has to use other means to maintain the loyalty of this man who is feeding nine mouths.

IS militants. Photo: Zuma Press

According to the Washington Post, in a series of documents published by a research magazine on April 22, al-Jiburi was identified as an employee serving IS.

He had two wives, each of whom he was paid $50. For each of his six children under the age of 15, al-Jiburi received an additional $35. For each captured sex slave, he received an additional $50. With a base salary of just $50, his total monthly income was $360, paid in US dollars by IS.

The documents reflect the financial difficulties facing IS after months of airstrikes and setbacks on the battlefield. The terrorist group is struggling to pay its fighters and staff, and is rationing electricity, fuel and other resources.

The payslips and most of the documents were collected over a six-month period, mainly in towns in Syria and Iraq recently liberated from IS control.

Income statement of an employee serving IS. Photo: CTC Sentinel

A document dated October 2015, stamped by the Syrian city government of Aleppo, prohibits militants from using the group's vehicles, except for military operations.

Another document announced that soldiers' homes would not have 24/7 electricity to save electricity for military bases.

The documents were released five months after IS leaders announced a 50% cut in fighters' salaries due to financial difficulties.

Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi, a British academic with access to the documents, said they did not reflect bonuses paid to some IS members for serving on the battlefield but still showed the challenge the terrorist group faced as oil revenues fell and cash stores were destroyed.

However, according to him, it is still too early to talk about the collapse of IS.

According to VNE