Some French Forces Arrive in Regions under Kurdish Militias’ Control in Eastern Syria
Syria’s al-Watan daily quoted militant-affiliated sources as reporting that the French forces, accompanied by the SDF, arrived in Kam al-Ataollah region 6 km Northwest of al-Jafrah oilfield in Northeastern Deir Ezzur on Firday evening.
It further said that the French soldiers were equipped with military vehicles and equipment, adding that the move is aimed at providing back up for the Kurdish fighters and leading battles in some flanks.
Al-Watan further said that the French forces have deployed in al-Umar oilfield. The US forces have been in Koniko and al-Jafrah oilfields in Deir Ezzur province since several months ago.
The Arabic-language Orient news website reported last week that the US established a modern base in al-Tanak oilfield in Eastern Deir Ezzur, adding that the oilfield is under the Kurdish fighters’ control.
It went on to say that the newly-established base was the third US base after the military bases of Koniko and al-Amr in Deir Ezzur.
Orient further said that the US and the Kurds embarked on sending military equipment to the regions near the contact line with the Syrian Army from the town of Khasham in Southeastern Deir Ezzur to the town of Hosseiniyeh in Northeastern Deir Ezzur.
The US, France and the UK launched a series of strikes on Syria earlier this month in retaliation for the alleged chemical attack by the Syrian government in the town of Douma. The assault came hours before the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) team was scheduled to arrive in Douma to determine whether chemical weapons had indeed been used there.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the missile strike against Syria’s military and civilian infrastructures was carried out by US warplanes and naval ships in cooperation with the British and French air forces, while the Syrian air defenses shot down 71 out of 103 missiles fired by the US-led coalition.
