DAMASCUS (Dispatches) – A Syrian army checkpoint has blocked a U.S. military convoy that was attempting to pass through the northeastern province of Hasakah, forcing it to retreat.
Local sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Syria’s official news agency SANA that a U.S. convoy consisting of five vehicles was forced to make a U-turn after the checkpoint personnel intercepted it at the village of Qabr al-Gharajeneh in Qamishli city in Hasakah.
Hasakah has been the scene of several incidents of U.S. military convoys being forced to change route or retreat.
People in Hasakah have blocked roads in a show of resentment over the presence of American troops in their region.
On March 21, local residents of several neighboring villages in the oil-rich province of Hasakah joined forces with government troops to block a U.S. military convoy attempting to pass through the community.
The U.S. convoy, consisting of six armored vehicles, was forced to turn around and head back in the direction it came from after locals of the villages of Qabr al-Saghir and Qabr al-Gharajeneh as well as government troops blocked the road and prevented its movement. No injuries were reported.
Similarly, a U.S. military convoy was forced to retreat from an area in the same province on Wednesday.
The U.S. military has stationed forces and equipment in northeastern Syria. The Pentagon claims the deployment is aimed at preventing the oilfields in the area from falling into the hands of Daesh terrorists. Damascus says the deployment is meant to plunder Syria’s rich mineral resources.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump admitted on more than one occasion that American forces were in Syria for its oil.
After failing to oust the Syrian government through militant proxies and direct involvement in the conflict, Washington stepped up its economic war on the Arab country.
Meanwhile, Abdulhameed Dashti, the president of the International Council for Supporting Fair Trial and Human Rights (ICSFT), has condemned the “hypocrisy” of countries that continue aggression against Syria.
In a speech at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Friday, Dashti said the “disgusting hypocrisy” practiced by those and their hostile recommendations against the people of the Arab country harm the credibility of international law.
He also praised the Syrian government for its tremendous efforts to ensure a decent livelihood for its citizens despite the high costs of the war and the impact of the unilateral economic sanctions.