News / Syria

US-backed SDF militants capture key oil field in Syria’s Dayr al-Zawr

Sunday, 22 October 2017 10:01 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 22 October 2017 10:58 AM ]

Members of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) ride atop military vehicles as they celebrate the capture of Raqqah, Syria, October 17, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

The US-backed alliance of militants, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), says it has seized control of one of Syria's largest oil fields in the eastern Dayr al-Zawr Province.

The SDF announced on Sunday the capture of al-Omar oil field, situated some 10 kilometers north of the town of al-Mayadin, which was recently liberated from the grip of Daesh terrorists by government forces.

With Daesh on the retreat amid government advances in Dayr al-Zawr, the SDF has recently pushed to capture as much territory as possible in the province, including a number of gas fields.

The developments are seen by analysts as a prelude to further flare-up of tensions in the region.

The SDF, which is dominated by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia, has reportedly shelled the positions of pro-Damascus troops on several occasions.

Earlier this week, Daesh terrorists left Raqqah, their former “capital” in Syria, as part of a deal with the SDF and the US-led coalition. Thus, the SDF announced full control over the city.

Kurdish militants in neighboring Iraq have likewise overrun territory in the course of fighting with Daesh there.

On Thursday, the YPG militants held a “victory” parade in Raqqah, during which they put up a huge poster of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that is outlawed in Turkey.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the raising of the Ocalan banner by the US-backed Kurdish forces was proof that Washington “is not only cooperating with terrorists, but they are endangering the future of Syria.”

PressTV-Militants promote PKK as Saudi, US envoys visit Raqqah

On Thursday, Reuters said Saudi Arabia’s Persian Gulf Affairs Minister Thamer al-Sabhan and US special envoy to the Syria war coalition Brett McGurk had visited Raqqah.

US raze Raqqah like Dresden: Russia

Separately on Sunday, Russia drew a parallel between the destruction caused by the US-led coalition in Raqqah and the bombing campaign on the German city of Dresden during the World War II.

The October 19, 2017 frame grab made from drone video shows damaged buildings in Raqqah, Syria. (Photo by AP)

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that Raqqah "inherited the fate of Dresden in 1945, razed to the ground by Anglo-American bombings."

The Russian Defense ministry further said that Western countries are now pumping humanitarian aid into Raqqah in a bid to mask the degree of destruction inflicted on the city.

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