US occupied military base targeted by rocket attacks in eastern Syria
A Syrian military facility occupied by US forces in eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr has come under rocket attacks from nearby area, as Washington seeks to deploy more military forces in the energy-rich regions of Syria to plunder natural resources there.
Citing local sources, the Arabic service of Russia’s Sputnik news agency reported that the projectiles landed in the vicinity of the US-controlled al-Omar oil field on Saturday evening, causing several explosions in surrounding areas.
Hitherto, there has been no immediate reports of serious injuries or possible casualties.
US military aircraft flew intensely over the field following the attack. So far, no group has claimed responsibility.
The US military has for long stationed its forces and equipment in northeastern Syria, with the Pentagon claiming that the deployment is aimed at preventing the oilfields in the area from falling into the hands of Daesh terrorists.
Damascus, however, maintains the deployment is meant to plunder the country’s natural resources. Former US president Donald Trump admitted on several occasions that American forces had their presence in the Arab country for its oil wealth.
Back on December 2, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson lambasted the US military’s deployment of troops in Syria and its smuggling of oil and grain as illegal.
“The US stationing of troops in Syria is illegal. The US smuggling of oil and grain from Syria is illegal. The US missile attack against Syria is also illegal,” Zhao Lijian told a daily news briefing in the capital city of Beijing.
The Chinese diplomat cited official data from the Syrian government that between 2011 and the first half of 2022, the US smuggling activities have cost Syria more than 100 billion dollars of losses.
Zhao stressed that the United States keeps violating international laws and rules, and yet claims to be a champion of what it calls “the rules-based international order.”
He added that when Washington talks about “rules,” it is often just trying to find a pretext for serving its own interest and perpetuating its hegemony.
Huge blasts at US arms depot in northern Iraq
Separately, massive explosions have rocked an arms depot belonging to US occupation forces in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.
Sabereen News, a Telegram news channel associated with Iraqi anti-terror Popular Mobilization Units – better known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha’abi – reported that the blast occurred in Kani Qirjalah area of the Kabat district in Erbil province.
The report added that no immediate information about the extent of damage caused and possible casualties was quickly available.
Sabereen News added that the circumstances surrounding the explosions remain unknown.
