Islamic State fighters will have to take a pay cut after the jihadist group announced plans to half the monthly salaries of its members, it is claimed.

Syrian militants would see their wages drop to about $200 (€183) from $400 (€367) per month, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.

And foreign fighters, who were paid double the Syrians, would see their monthly income reduced to $400.

IS said the move was due to "exceptional circumstances" and comes at a time when it is under pressure from intensive coalition airstrikes in Syria and Iraq, including on its oil infrastructure.

Last week, the US Defense Department released footage showing millions of dollars of Islamic State (IS) funds being blown up in an American strike.

The aerial footage showed a building being targeted in Mosul - the extremist group's main stronghold in Iraq.

Clouds of paper bills quickly filled the air as the building was flattened by two 2,000-pound bombs.

According to the monitoring group, IS released a statement saying: "Because of the exceptional circumstances that the Islamic State is passing through, a decision was taken to cut the salaries of the mujahedeen in half.

"No one will be exempt from this decision no matter his position, but the distribution of food assistance will continue twice a month as usual."

IS has declared a self-styled "caliphate" across swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, imposing its harsh interpretation of Islamic law.

The jihadist group strives to show that it operates a full-fledged state, with government institutions, hospitals, and schools.