– The US State Department confirmed today, Friday, that the United States intends to maintain its military presence in northeastern Syria “with the aim of combating the terrorist organization ISIS.”

“We intend to maintain a limited military presence in northeastern Syria with one aim to fighting ISIS in partnership with the Syrian Democratic Forces to establish stability in the liberated areas of Syria,” Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Middle Eastern Affairs Joey Hood said in a conference call.

Most of the lands of the governorates of Hasaka, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa, which are rich in energy resources, in north and northeastern Syria, are under the control of the “Syrian Democratic Forces”, which are backed by the international coalition against ISIS led by the United States.

The Syrian authorities accuse the United States of working to “smuggle Syrian oil and sell it abroad to deprive the Syrians of it in flagrant violation of international law.”

In late 2019, former US President Donald Trump approved a plan to withdraw his country’s forces previously deployed in Syria, but later decided, as a result of pressure from members of his administration, to keep 900 military personnel to ensure American control of the oil fields that were seized in Al-Jazeera region.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency