U.S. Troops Smuggle Syria’s Oil to Iraq: Report
DAMASCUS (Dispatches) – A convoy of American military vehicles has escorted several trucks filled with crude extracted from oil fields in Syria’s Hasakah province, currently controlled by Kurdish militants and U.S. troops, the Syrian news agency SANA reported.
The agency cites sources in the Syrian town of Al-Yaarubiyah as saying that the convoy consisting of 35 vehicles went through the Al-Yaarubiyah border crossing on the evening of July 10th.
The news of the convoy comes a little over a week after similar reports saying that a U.S. convoy had escorted some 30 trucks full of Syrian oil to Iraq on 1 July.
These operations are purportedly part of efforts, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in October 2019, to "secure” the Syrian oil. Despite promises to withdraw the troops, who were deployed illegally – without the consent of Damascus or a UN mandate, Washington maintained its military presence, solidifying positions in the oil-rich province of Hasakah, controlled by the Kurdish militants.
The presence of U.S. troops in eastern Syria has particularly irked the civilians, and local residents have on several occasions stopped American military convoys entering the region.
Damascus and Moscow have accused Washington of stealing Syria’s national resources and profiteering from smuggling the crude to nearby countries. They have repeatedly demanded that the U.S. immediately withdraw its troops in accordance with international law. The U.S. claims, however, that it is defending the oil fields from being recaptured by the remnants of the long-defeated Daesh terrorist organization.
Separately, Syrians staged a rally in al-Qusayr village, which lies in the the Qamishli district of Hasakah province, to protest against U.S. and Turkish military deployment to their area, in addition to new anti-Syria economic sanctions which entered into force on June 17 under the so-called Caesar Act.
The protesters burnt U.S. flags, and demeaned the immediate withdrawal of all foreign military troops and their mercenaries from the entire Syrian territory as the forces perpetrate various acts of aggression and loot the country’s natural wealth.
25 Turkish Military Vehicles Enter Idlib
In another development, 25 Turkish military vehicles entered northern Syria on Saturday as part of an ongoing operation to send military backup to Turkish points in the area, a war monitor reported.
The convoy, which includes logistics and military devices, reached the Turkish observation points in two batches, said the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
A total of 4,560 Turkish military vehicles have entered areas in Idlib province in northwestern Syria since March when Turkey and Russia brokered a cease-fire agreement, the Britain-based watchdog noted.
Under the deal with Russia, Turkey set up several observation points in Idlib and nearby areas.
The agency cites sources in the Syrian town of Al-Yaarubiyah as saying that the convoy consisting of 35 vehicles went through the Al-Yaarubiyah border crossing on the evening of July 10th.
The news of the convoy comes a little over a week after similar reports saying that a U.S. convoy had escorted some 30 trucks full of Syrian oil to Iraq on 1 July.
These operations are purportedly part of efforts, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in October 2019, to "secure” the Syrian oil. Despite promises to withdraw the troops, who were deployed illegally – without the consent of Damascus or a UN mandate, Washington maintained its military presence, solidifying positions in the oil-rich province of Hasakah, controlled by the Kurdish militants.
The presence of U.S. troops in eastern Syria has particularly irked the civilians, and local residents have on several occasions stopped American military convoys entering the region.
Damascus and Moscow have accused Washington of stealing Syria’s national resources and profiteering from smuggling the crude to nearby countries. They have repeatedly demanded that the U.S. immediately withdraw its troops in accordance with international law. The U.S. claims, however, that it is defending the oil fields from being recaptured by the remnants of the long-defeated Daesh terrorist organization.
Separately, Syrians staged a rally in al-Qusayr village, which lies in the the Qamishli district of Hasakah province, to protest against U.S. and Turkish military deployment to their area, in addition to new anti-Syria economic sanctions which entered into force on June 17 under the so-called Caesar Act.
The protesters burnt U.S. flags, and demeaned the immediate withdrawal of all foreign military troops and their mercenaries from the entire Syrian territory as the forces perpetrate various acts of aggression and loot the country’s natural wealth.
25 Turkish Military Vehicles Enter Idlib
In another development, 25 Turkish military vehicles entered northern Syria on Saturday as part of an ongoing operation to send military backup to Turkish points in the area, a war monitor reported.
The convoy, which includes logistics and military devices, reached the Turkish observation points in two batches, said the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
A total of 4,560 Turkish military vehicles have entered areas in Idlib province in northwestern Syria since March when Turkey and Russia brokered a cease-fire agreement, the Britain-based watchdog noted.
Under the deal with Russia, Turkey set up several observation points in Idlib and nearby areas.