Killing of civilians, theft and smuggling of oil and the oppression of the local population by controlled militants - why the presence of US troops in northeast Syria turned into an occupation, Federal News Agency commented the expert Vladimir Fitin.
US military crime
The Syrian news agency SANA reported, that military personnel of the International Coalition led by the United States, a civilian was shot dead in the east of the province Deir Ezzor Enormous for it, that he drove his car off the highway near the Tabia oil field, also known as "Konoko".
SANA: #Syrian citizen was shot dead by the #US. military near the Conoco Oil Field in the eastern CS of #Deir_Ezzor!#Syria #USA #SyrianArmy pic.twitter.com/X3ekPkPf8T
— ???????? NadiaHarbieh ???????? (@HarbiehNadie) May 2, 2020
According to available data, a civilian was killed right behind the wheel of his car, although he just moved without any suspicion. Later data appeared, that he was shot Yasir Mohammed Aslan, who was shot in the head by an American sniper from the positions of a military base, located near a public road.
Delicacy :
U.S. military
Civil “Yasser Muhammad Aslan” As a result of being targeted by a shot in the head by an American forces sniper while he was passing on the public road near the Koniko oil field. pic.twitter.com/8PDPBPpX1Z— Thamer Al-johmani (@JohmaniThamer) May 2, 2020
Expert of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies Vladimir Fitin in conversation with Federal News Agency I told, can the killing of a civilian lead to any consequences for the American military contingent.
Consequences of the murder
As FAN's interlocutor noted, need to understand, that a lot here depends not only on the actions of the Americans themselves, but also, who was this civilian.
“Traditionally, Arab tribes live there, and, if he is a representative of one of these communities, then this may once again affect the attitude towards Americans.”, - says expert.
It is also important to note, that in recent months in northeastern Syria there have been increasing cases of attacks by unknown armed persons on patrols of US military personnel and Kurdish militants controlled by them from Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
So, 27 April this year it became known about an attack by unknown persons on an American Hummvee armored car, which moved from the Al-Omar oil field area to the At-Tanak oil field area. US soldiers in the armored vehicle went missing. Although the American military command called the information “fake”, this only confirms the precedent.
The thing is, that earlier in April, a US military officer and two Kurdish SDF fighters were killed in a surprise attack near the village of Al-Sur in the province of Deir ez-Zor. And before that, an American serviceman died, when their squad's armored car was hit by an ATGM missile.
Two US occupation troops go missing in #DeirEzzor after gunmen attack their vehicle,
Huge Respect to the those Real Syrians that resisting for illegal occupation in our land!
????????#SyrianVictory2020????????✌️ #SyrianArabRepublic #TheResistance pic.twitter.com/hq1JbQInBk— RealSyria Official???????? (@realsyriaa) April 28, 2020
As Vladimir Fitin notes, given the far from peaceful regime in this region of Syria, American troops are constantly on edge and this is not the first conflict incident, since we are talking about the situation, when occupying forces occupy part of the territory of a sovereign country.
“It’s possible, that the senior leadership gave the order to the military personnel to shoot at all, who does not comply with their demands, doesn't stop, For example", - says expert.
Blood money
Typically, such crimes involve Kurdish militants from the Syrian Democratic Forces. (SDF), closely associated with the United States and following their instructions to control territories in northeast Syria. As Vladimir Fitin notes, US military personnel themselves rarely do the bloody work, preferring to sit on bases and control the main oil areas.
“The Americans maintain control of Syrian oil in the most resource-rich areas, preventing the Syrian government from using oil to rebuild the country.", - says expert.
However, one should not forget, that in northeast Syria there is a kind of struggle for influence between two NATO “allies” - Ankara and Washington. Quite often, clashes occur between pro-Turkish armed groups and even Turkish military personnel, as well as militants of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which are financed and supplied by the Americans.
Excuses for your crimes
The fight against terrorism in a particular region has already become the main mechanics for the occupation of territories by the American military. According to Vladimir Fitin, American-announced raids against Islamic State terrorists1 (IG1, It banned in Russia), have become some kind of “icon”, which hangs on the wall, to explain, what do Americans want in this church?.
The Syrian Democratic Forces: Our Special Units, an air cover by the International Alliance, arrest an #ISIS cell in Hajin, east of Deir Ezzor.#Syria pic.twitter.com/8qGxdlFg0d
— Seydo Ibo (@seydoibo) May 1, 2020
“In fact, now the Islamic State is lying low and only occasionally carries out small attacks in desert areas. Therefore, the fight against him by the Americans is more like a fake. The main task of the Americans, except for the declaration of the fight against radical jihadists, control of the basic resources of the Syrian people.
Oil smuggling is covered by Kurdish SDF fighters, and the Americans are safely patronizing them", - says the interlocutor of FAN.
It is important to note here, that the income from the sale of stolen oil is very significant for the American government. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Syrian oil smuggling at the beginning 2020 year brought the USA about 30 million dollars every month. Part of these funds was directly used to bribe the leaders of the armed formations of Kurdish militants, the other part settled in the form of assistance to SDF gangs, and some income goes to the American treasury.
Resisting the American presence
According to Vladimir Fitin, such clashes and killings of civilians cannot be prevented, while US occupation forces are on Syrian territory.
“There will always be conflict situations. But in reality, the only way to expel American military personnel is by force.
US President Donald Trump has, of course, repeatedly stated, that it is necessary to reduce the American Armed Forces in the Middle East, since the States do not receive any return on investment. But declarations are one thing, but no real withdrawal of troops from any Middle Eastern country was noticed.”, — concluded the expert of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies.
1 Organization banned in Russia.
Author: A.G.
