Angry villagers, backed by Syrian army troops, have blocked a US convoy from advancing in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah.
Syria's official news agency SANA said on Friday that residents of the villages of Rehiyeh al-Sawda and Tamna al-Rehiyeh in the countryside of Qamishli City in Hasakah had blocked a US convoy from advancing in the region and forced it to retreat.
SANA cited local sources as saying that the convoy was made up of six military vehicles that tried to cross into Tamna al-Rehiyeh through the Rehiyeh al-Sawda checkpoint.
The residents of the two villages, backed by the army troops, blocked the convoy from moving forward, hurling rocks at the vehicles and chanting slogans against the US occupation of parts of Syrian territory.
It was not the first public display of resentment toward the presence of American troops in Syria. On Thursday, residents of Damkhia and Tal Dahab villages also forced a US convoy that was trying to cross into the city of Qamishli to retreat.
The US military has stationed forces and equipment in eastern and northeastern Syria, with the Pentagon claiming that the deployment is aimed at preventing the oilfields in the area from falling into the hands of Daesh terrorists.
Damascus, however, says the unlawful deployment is meant to plunder the country's resources. Former US President Donald Trump admitted on several occasions that American forces were in Syria for its oil.
After failing to oust the Syrian government with the help of its proxies and direct involvement in the conflict, the US government has now stepped up its economic war on the Arab country.