WASHINGTON (Press TV) – U.S. troops deployed to the oil-rich northeastern part of Syria have no legal mandate to stay in the Arab country under the allegations of fighting the Daesh terrorist group, the Russian Embassy in Washington says.
“It’s a matter of fact that U.S armed forces have no legal mandate to stay in Syria. Your interpretation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 is just ridiculous. Please, read the document thoroughly,” the diplomatic mission said in a post published on its Twitter page.
Earlier, Colonel Wayne Marotto, spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, had claimed in a tweet that American occupation forces “are in northeastern Syria under international law — UN Security Council Resolution 2254 adopted December 2015.”
The Pentagon claims that the deployment to northeastern Syria is aimed at preventing the oilfields in the area from falling into the hands of Daesh terrorists. Damascus and Moscow, however, reject that claim and say the deployment is meant to plunder the country’s resources.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump admitted on more than one occasion that American forces were in Syria for its oil.
Syrian officials say the stepped-up smuggling of strategic Syrian resources is the latest inhumane tactic using people’s basic needs as a tool to pressure the government.
After failing to oust the Syrian government through proxies and direct involvement in the conflict, the U.S. government has stepped up its economic war on the Arab country.
Last June, the U.S. enacted the so-called Caesar Act that imposed the toughest sanctions ever on Syria with the alleged aim of choking off revenue sources for the government.
The sanctions, however, have crippled the war-torn country’s economy by prohibiting foreign companies from trading with Damascus.
Syria says the real purpose of the measures is to put pressure on Syrians and their livelihoods.
Last April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the United States makes use of the Daesh terrorist group to impede a political solution to the decade-long crisis in Syria and supports separatist militants in a flagrant violation of international resolutions.
Lavrov said the U.S. has occupied lands in Syria and continues to plunder its natural wealth, including oil, gas, and wheat, and escalates tensions to destabilize the war-torn Arab country.
The top Russian diplomat reiterated the need to resolve the Syrian crisis politically in accordance with UN Security Resolution 2254.
Russia has been helping Syrian forces in ongoing battles across the conflict-plagued country, mainly providing aerial support to ground operations against the terrorists.