Washington strengthens its presence in northern Syria to counter Russian influence
The U.S. military has sent reinforcements to bases in the Syrian province of Al-Hasakah that are under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as tensions between Russian and U.S. forces rise.
Local sources reported on Monday that the US reinforcements, consisting of a military and logistical convoy of about 40 vehicles, entered from the Iraqi/Syrian gate of Al-Waleed on Sunday evening.
The reinforcements, consisting of military armored vehicles, fuel tankers and large quantities of ammunition, headed to US bases and military outposts in Rumeilan, Tell Beydar and Al-Chaddadeh areas of Al-Hasakah province, in northwest Syria, he said.
In October 2019, during Turkish operations in northern Syria to pursue Kurdish militants, US forces withdrew from the area, reinforcing their presence around Syria’s northeastern oil fields.
The United States is seeking to counter Russian influence in Syria with the aim of isolating Moscow internationally over its invasion of Ukraine in February 2021.
Last week, the British news website Middle East Eye, quoting an American military commander’s statement, confirmed that Washington had sent a Himars missile system to Syria. At the same time, it denied that the system had been sent to the Syrian Democratic Forces.
In April, Egypt rejected a US request to close its airspace to Russian aircraft, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials. Washington also issued calls to Iraq, Turkey, and Jordan to limit Russian flights to Syrian destinations.
Russia, for its part, has accused the United States of plotting to destabilize Syrian regime-controlled areas, particularly in the capital Damascus.
Russian forces have warned against contact attempts by the U.S. military, accusing U.S. pilots of “grave violations” of protocols designed to avoid a clash between the two superpowers by activating U.S. fighter jets with weapons over Syria.
According to the Russian intelligence service, the U.S. plot involves Washington-backed militants interacting with clandestine cells of takfiri organizations to carry out sabotage operations and attacks on government institutions and crowded public places.
It is unclear whether the US military move is linked to support for the SDF, which is preparing for a Turkish military operation targeting areas under its control after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a new term.
Russia intervened in the Syrian civil war in 2015, turning the tide in President Bashar al-Assad’s favor. Since then, Moscow has expanded its military facilities in the country with a permanent air base and also a naval base.
The United States leads a coalition against IS and has carried out airstrikes in Syria against its positions and killed several of its top leaders.
