The US military have returned to northeastern Syria, the Syrian state television broadcasts.
“A convoy of American occupation forces entered Iraq from Hasek in the Syrian province through the illegal al-Walid border crossing. Dozens of military personnel and military equipment cover the convoy from American helicopters”, – Syria TV reported.
Since 2014, the United States and its allies have carried out an operation against the Islamic State*, in Syria they acted without the consent of official authorities. The decision to leave the north-east of the country was made by Washington after the beginning of the Turkish military operation “Source of Peace” against the Kurdish forces, which over the past few years have been the US’ allies in the fight against ISIS, on October 9.
As a result, the US military left most of the bases in the provinces of Aleppo, Al-Hasaka and Raqqa and relocated to Iraq.
At the same time, the US President Donald Trump said that some of the US military would remain in Syria to protect oil fields. Pentagon later confirmed that they were ready to send additional forces to the oil-bearing areas.
About 90 percent of Syrian oil production is concentrated on the eastern bank of the Euphrates. Previously, it was a stronghold and the main source of income for ISIS*, and recently, these areas have mainly been taken under control of Kurdish units and Americans. This week, Trump invited the Kurds to occupy this region and promised that a certain American company would help them with oil production.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, active extraction and massive smuggling of oil under the cover of the American army continues in Zaevfratie.
* – Terrorist organization banned in Russia.