East Euphrates: US forces put experienced SDF fighters in charge of guarding oil fields

Reliable sources have informed the Syrian Observatory that U.S. forces intend to take the task of guarding the oil fields and pipelines in eastern Euphrates away from the “Self Defence Forces” and put SDF fighters in charge.

The fighters to be assigned should have long and hard combat experience of those who have fought battles with ISIS.

This development comes as a part of U.S. tireless efforts to re-entrench its presence and reassert its influence in eastern Euphrates region.

According to SOHR sources, the reports circulated on the Americans’ intention to abandon SDF again and to form a structure comprises forces of the Arab component only are completely false.

A few days earlier, SOHR sources reported that U.S. forces paid many secret visits to Al-Jazarah military base on the outskirts of Al-Raqqah city in the past few days.

Al-Jazarah military base is one of the largest ex-bases of the International Coalition where Syria Democratic Forces are now present.

According to SOHR sources, U.S. forces intend to station their troops in the military base once again as a part of efforts to entrench their presence in eastern Euphrates.

On April 12, reliable sources informed the Syrian Observatory that U.S. forces summoned hundreds of members of Syria Democratic Forces, who worked with the US forces previously, to cooperate and work together again.

According to SOHR sources, U.S. forces are entrenching their presence greatly in eastern Euphrates region. The U.S. started to reassert its influence in Syria again, just a few months after the announcement by the US President Donald Trump to withdraw from Syria in mid-December 2018 before partially reversing his decision.

Very reliable SOHR sources confirmed that hundreds of SDF members joined the U.S. military bases, specifically in Deir Ezzor and Al-Hasakah, to work again with the U.S. forces, since the role of SDF members was seen as outstanding on the support and logistics fronts. The SDF members also continue to undergo military training by the Americans.

“The U.S. offered the SDF members, who returned to work with the Americans, larger salaries than those they used to receive,” the sources added.