ISIS fighters reportedly took a 50 percent pay cut

The Islamic State has reportedly cut all of its fighters' salaries by 50 percent, CNN reports based on leaked documents obtained by a scholar who tracks the terrorist group.

"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 [jihadists] by half, and it is not allowed for anyone to be exempted from this decision, whatever his position," read a translated excerpt from the purported ISIS memo posted by Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi, who researches and writes about ISIS extensively at the Middle East Forum.

How much did the group's soldiers make, anyway? Between $400 and $600, plus extra stipends for fighters with wives and children, according to an April 2015 report from the Congressional Research Service.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up