Wealth and Power, or the US Occupation Policy in Syria
While the world's attention is focused on the violence of the bloodthirsty Zionists, the illegal occupation of the territories of Syria, which is a neighbor of Palestine, by the United States remains out of sight.
US military bases are located in the north-east of Syria. Such a strategic location is no accident. There are 28 US installations, including 24 military bases, from the southwest of the country - from the Syria-Jordan-Iraq border to the west of the Euphrates River in the northeast.
The US military, deployed with specific geostrategic objectives, serves Washington's domestic, regional and international interests.
Increase in US military forces
According to US data, the number of American soldiers in Syria was 50 in 2015, and by the end of 2017, it exceeded two thousand. In April 2017, then-national security adviser Brigadier General Herbert Raymond McMaster was reportedly considering sending up to 50,000 troops to Iraq and Syria.
The Obama administration justified sending large numbers of troops to Syria as necessary to address internal instability in the country, including the rise of terrorism and the weakening of state institutions. In fact, he used US soldiers for his own interests. Its invasion efforts have been fueled by foreign intervention, which has supplied weapons, money and intelligence from a militant group called the Free Syrian Army to ISIS.
The US has also supported Kurdish forces trying to establish an autonomous administration in northeastern Syria. This comes after Damascus sought Russian military intervention against foreign-backed militants to maintain its influence.
Destabilization and economic blockade
It is clear as day that one of the main goals of the illegal US military deployment is to plunder Syria's oil and gas resources. The US not only finances the activities of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), but also strengthens the economic blockade against Syria. This same blockade is reflected in the "Caesar's Law" sanctions introduced in June 2020.
At that time, the former US ambassador to Syria, James Jeffrey, said that these sanctions were hindering the collapse of the Syrian pound and the government's economic policy, noting that Damascus was "incapable of running an effective economic policy and laundering money in Lebanese banks."
The US also uses oil revenues to fund its military presence in the region and prevent Muslim prosperity.
To contain Iran and secure Israel's interests
Regionally, the US presence is aimed at preventing Iran from establishing land links to the Mediterranean through Iraq and Syria.
In addition, US bases in southeastern Syria and near the Iraqi border control Arab tribes and protect Israel by blocking the land corridor between Syria and Iraq. In particular, this move was aimed at isolating Syria from its regional allies, especially Iran and the Hezbollah resistance movement, which pose a direct threat to Israel.
Fighting Russian and Chinese influence
Internationally, the presence of the United States in Syria helps Washington maintain its dominance in the world order and counter the influence of Russia and China, which are considered the dominant power in Eurasia. The deployment in Syria also means stopping China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative.
Washington's attempts to change the Syrian political system have so far largely failed. In addition, US bases and facilities are increasingly under attack by regional resistance groups. Since November 2023, there have been 102 attacks on US troops and facilities, indicating growing resistance to the American occupation of Syria.
Despite the significant presence of the United States, it is unclear whether American troops will remain in enemy territory for long.
The future of the United States in Syria
The plan of action of the USA in Syria in the future remains abstract. The upcoming US presidential elections may also change Washington's approach to Syria. If the current administration is serious about negotiating a regional peace deal and reviving the Iran nuclear deal, it may choose to withdraw troops from Syria to shore up support for Democrats. Conversely, if Donald Trump returns to power, there is a possibility that the US will withdraw from Ukraine and Syria through a potential deal with Russia.
Ensuring Syria's energy and sovereignty
The Rumeylan base, located in the northeastern part of Al-Hasaka province, is the first US military post in Syria. About 500 employees whose main task is to protect the region's oil installations are stationed there. There are approximately 1,300 oil wells in the region, which until 2011 produced 120,000 to 150,000 barrels of oil and about 2 million cubic meters of gas per day.
The American base, located southeast of Al-Shaddadi, is also close to the region's most important oil reserves. Nearby is the Al-Gipsa field, which contains approximately 500 oil wells and is the second largest oil field in Al-Hasakah.
The largest and most important US base in Syria was built around the Al-Omari field in Deir ez-Zour, which produced up to 80,000 barrels of oil per day until 2011. This base, along with other bases such as the Conoco Mine, Tal Baydar, Life Stone, Qasrak, Khimos and Al-Tanf, ensure US dominance in the most important and resource-rich area of Syria.
Summary
The US military presence in northeastern Syria serves to counter Iran's influence, protect Israel's interests, weaken the Syrian economy, and maintain its hegemony in the Persian Gulf.
Currently, local Arab tribes and the Axis of Resistance in the region are fighting against this colonial policy and the occupation forces that implement it.
However, it is clear that in the near future, the US will fight tooth and nail against local liberation movements in order to maintain its military bases and realize its strategic goals in Syria. This is based on the fact that the invaders have appropriated the wealth belonging to Muslims and continued their policy of oppression under the guise of democracy.
Mohammad Nadir al-Umari, expert on international relations
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