Russia blames US for tense confrontation in Syria

Moscow has blamed Washington for a tense confrontation in Syria after the US reported injuries among its troops in a “collision” with a Russian vehicle, saying the incident happened when the US military tried to hinder a Russian patrol there.

According to the US National Security Council (NSC), a Russian vehicle struck a US mine-resistant all-terrain vehicle on Tuesday morning, “causing injuries to the vehicle’s crew.”

According to the NSC, the incident took place near a location it described as “Dayrick”, a possible reference to Derik, near the Turkish and Iraqi borders.

Russia’s Defense Ministry released a statement on Thursday, saying that it had warned the US-led coalition forces in advance that a column of its military police would pass through.

“In spite of this, in breach of the existing agreements, the US troops attempted to block the Russian patrol” it said, adding that Russian military police took the “necessary measures” to end the incident and carry on their mission.

Moscow said the chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, gave “full explanations” in a phone call with General Mark Milley, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.

US troops injured in ‘collision’ with Russian forces in Syria

A video circulated on the internet showing two Russian helicopters flying above the Americans.

According to Politico, which first reported the incident, citing a draft military statement, four American soldiers were diagnosed with mild concussion.

AP quoted an American official as saying that that the incident happened deep inside the de-confliction zone in eastern Syria.

As US troops pulled out of bases near the Turkish border, Russian troops moved in and now control a US-built airstrip in the region.

Multiple videos that surfaced on social media show US and Russian vehicles in close proximity, each group trying to convince the other convoy to disperse.

 A video from the Russian troops — posted via RusVesna.Su, a Russian website, and then re-posted on Twitter — shows US forces attempting to block the Russian forces’ path until they veer off into a field.

Then, a US Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle (MRAP) appears to collide with a Russian vehicle as Russian helicopters fly overhead.

Russia has been helping Syrian forces in the ongoing battle against terrorists across the conflict-plagued Arab country.

The Russian military's assistance began in September 2015 at the official request of the Syrian government. The United States also deployed troops and equipment to Syria in 2014, but without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate.

The US military deployed forces and equipment to the Syrian provinces of Hasakah and Dayr al-Zawr following President Donald Trump’s October 19 decision to keep hundreds of US troops in Syria to ‘secure’ the country's oilfields which Syrian troops have yet to retake from militants.

US troops block Russian forces’ way to oil fields in northeastern Syria

US soldiers have reportedly stopped a Russian military convoy from reaching oil fields in Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakah.

Over the past few months, local residents, in coordination with government forces, have prevented US forces from passing through their communities in Hasakah province.

Syria, which has not authorized American military presence in its territory, has condemned the US, saying it is “plundering” the country’s oil.

Russia says Washington’s attempts to control Syria’s oilfields are “illegal” and amount to “robbery.”

Damascus is in great need of its major oil deposits in order to address its energy needs and rebuild the country amid crippling Western sanctions.

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