Military analyst: Striking ISIS-controlled oil refineries ‘a smart thing to do’

(CNN) – The latest airstrikes in Syria appear to be part of an effort to cut off money flowing to ISIS, targeting oilfields under the terrorist group's control.

"This is a smart thing to do for several reasons," said CNN military analyst Lt. Col. Rick Francona.

Striking the oil installations hurts ISIS financially, and stems the flow of illicit oil, says Francona.

The installations are also not in densely populated cities, so "the likelihood of collateral damage and civilian casualties is minimized," he said.

For more of our interview with CNN military analyst Lt. Col. Rick Francona, check out the video above.