Syrian forces seize main oil, fuel fields in japanese Syria, safety sources say

Jan 18 (Reuters) – Syrian troops combating U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces seized the Omar oil area, the nation’s largest, and the Conoco fuel area within the japanese Deir Zor province as allied Arab tribal forces superior within the oil-rich space alongside the border with Iraq, officers and safety sources stated on Sunday.

The takeover of the oil fields that lie east of the Euphrates River — a major income for the Kurdish-led forces — was a serious blow to the group.

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Syrian authorities officers stated the oil wealth the militia had managed to maintain its self-administered area had disadvantaged the state of a lot‑wanted assets.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa stated final week it was unacceptable for a militia to regulate 1 / 4 of the nation and maintain its major oil and commodities assets.

The Syrian military pressed forward into predominantly Arab-populated areas of northeast Syria managed by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), regardless of U.S. calls to halt its advance.

A authorities supply stated Kurdish-led forces had been overcome after advances led by the Arab tribal fighters, permitting the federal government and its tribal allies to maneuver right into a stretch of territory of greater than 150 km alongside the japanese financial institution of the Euphrates stretching from Baghouz close to the Iraqi border in direction of key cities, together with al-Shuhail and Busayra.

Syrian authorities officers stated the advances successfully introduced most of Deir al-Zor province — the nation’s major oil- and wheat-producing space alongside the Euphrates — underneath their management.

Late on Saturday, the military additionally took management of the northern metropolis of Tabqa and its adjoining dam, in addition to the most important Freedom Dam, previously often known as the Baath Dam, west of Raqqa.

Syrian Kurdish authorities haven’t acknowledged the lack of these strategic websites and stated combating continued close to the dam space, accusing Damascus of breaching an settlement on the withdrawal of forces from areas east of Aleppo to broaden its offensive.

Syrian Kurdish officers stated factions aligned with the federal government had been attacking their forces regardless of efforts to succeed in a peaceable end result. The civil administration that runs the area stated Damascus was intent on sowing divisions between Arabs and Kurds.

“We’re at a crucial juncture. We both resist or stay in dignity and face all sorts of injustice,” their assertion stated, urging residents of the majority-Arab areas to face by the SDF.

“We name on our folks, particularly the youth, to take up arms and put together to withstand any assault. We face a warfare for our survival,” it added.

The federal government had known as on SDF fighters — most of whom are from Arab tribes — to defect. It says lots of have already switched sides and joined tribal forces combating the SDF.

Dozens of Arab tribal leaders have stated they’d been marginalised underneath Kurdish management, a declare the SDF denies, saying its ranks mirror the variety of Syrian society.

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