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Syrian govt. forces, locals block US convoy in oil-rich Hasakah, force it to turn back

Monday, 21 March 2022 6:18 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 21 March 2022 6:18 AM ]

US military vehicles patrol along the M4 highway near Tal Tamr, northeastern Syria. (Photo by AFP)

Amid smoldering public resentment over the presence of American occupation troops in northeastern Syria, local residents of several neighboring village in the oil-rich province of Hasakah have joined forces with government troops to block a US military convoy attempting to pass through the community.

Syria’s official news agency SANA reported that a US convoy of six armored vehicles was forced to turn around and head back in the direction on Sunday afternoon it came from after locals of the villages of Qabr al-Saghir and Qabr al-Gharajeneh as well as Syrian troops blocked the road and prevented its movement. No injuries were reported.

مراسل سانا: الجيش يعترض رتلاً للاحتلال الأمريكي من ٦ عربات حاول الدخول الي قريتي قبر صغير وقبور الغراجنة في ناحية تل تمر شمال غرب الحسكة و يطرده خارج المنطقة.
— الوكالة العربية السورية للأنباء - سانا (@SanaAjel) March 20, 2022

The development took place only two days after a US military convoy was forced to retreat from an area in the same Syrian province after residents of the villages of Rehiyeh al-Sawda and Tamna al-Rehiyeh in the countryside of Qamishli City blocked its way.

SANA cited local sources as saying that the convoy was made up of six military vehicles, and tried to cross into Tamna al-Rehiyeh through the Rehiyeh al-Sawda checkpoint on March 18.

The residents of the two villages, backed by the army troops, stopped the convoy from moving forward, hurling rocks at the vehicles and chanting slogans against the US occupation forces.

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 the Daesh terrorists.

US military keeps smuggling crude oil from Syria’s Hasakah into Iraq: Report

The US military keeps smuggling crude oil from Syria’s Hasakah into northern Iraq, a report says.

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.

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