The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, allies say it has gained control of Syria’s oil fields in eastern Province of Dayr al-Zawr.
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The SDF announced on Sunday the capture of al-Omar oil field, situated some 10 kilometers north of the town of al-Mayadin, which was recently liberated from the grip of Daesh terrorists by government forces.
With Daesh on the retreat amid government advances in Dayr al-Zawr, the SDF has recently pushed to capture as much territory as possible in the province, including a number of gas fields.
The developments are seen by analysts as a prelude to further flare-up of tensions in the region.
The SDF, which is dominated by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia, has reportedly shelled the positions of pro-Damascus troops on several occasions.
Earlier this week, Daesh terrorists left Raqqah, their former “capital” in Syria, as part of a deal with the SDF and the US-led coalition. Thus, the SDF announced full control over the city.
Kurdish militants in neighboring Iraq have likewise overrun territory in the course of fighting with Daesh there.
On Thursday, the YPG militants held a “victory” parade in Raqqah, during which they put up a huge poster of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that is outlawed in Turkey.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the raising of the Ocalan banner by the US-backed Kurdish forces was proof that Washington “is not only cooperating with terrorists, but they are endangering the future of Syria.”
US raze Raqqah like Dresden: Russia
Separately on Sunday, Russia drew a parallel between the destruction caused by the US-led coalition in Raqqah and the bombing campaign on the German city of Dresden during the World War II.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that Raqqah "inherited the fate of Dresden in 1945, razed to the ground by Anglo-American bombings."
The Russian Defense ministry further said that Western countries are now pumping humanitarian aid into Raqqah in a bid to mask the degree of destruction inflicted on the city.
