First Images Of US Troops Occupying Syria’s Oil Fields Stir Outrage

The reality of American foreign policy all in one stunning image: regional Iraqi Kurdistan24 television has broadcast the first footage of the United States Army seizing and ‘protecting’ a Syrian oil field in the country’s northeast. 

Specifically the images are of a US armed convoy at Rumelan oil field, and are the first to show Trump’s ordered “secure the oil” policy in action. A Salon op-ed aptly quips in reaction: “It’s about the oil, stupid: Trump wants to end the forever wars, except the one about oil and money.”

US forces began patrols at oilfields on Mount Qarachokh near Derik in northeastern #Syria on Friday. #TwitterKurds pic.twitter.com/UjdCn6FFVL

— Kurdistan 24 English (@K24English) November 2, 2019

Middle East war correspondent Jenan Moussa, who has covered the Iraq war and other US occupations in the region, voiced the growing outrage over the US resource theft underway in Syria:

Since discovery of oil in the MidEast, many in the region said: the U.S. is only here to steal our oil. U.S. denied it, and claimed it’s about democracy, human rights, women etc.

Not sure if Americans realize but these pictures of U.S. troops in northeast Syria are HUGELY damaging to U.S. image.

Since discovery of oil in MidEast, many in region said: U.S. only here to steal our oil.

U.S. denied, claimed it’s about democracy, human rights, women etc.

Not sure if Americans realize but these pictures of U.S. troops in northeast Syria are HUGELY damaging to U.S. image. pic.twitter.com/C3exwUbHtD

— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) November 2, 2019

One Syrian commentator said sarcastically on social media: 

The Few. The Proud. The Marines. stealing Syria’s oil.

And further pointed out that, “Trump just showed you the naked truth about US foreign policy in the Middle East.”

A US coalition statement earlier this week confirmed American forces are being “repositioned” in Syria’s oil rich region just east of the Euphrates to “protect critical infrastructure”.

Mechanized units have been observed going into the area, however, no tanks have as yet been seen. 

US Pandur AGMS around Syrian city of Qamishli. pic.twitter.com/t01ArISUib

— Aldin 🇧🇦 (@aldin_ww) November 2, 2019

The coalition statement said that “mechanized forces” providing “infantry, maneuverability, and firepower” are further en route to bolster forces currently redeploying in the region, and in support of Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.