U.S. forces set up new air base near Shaddadi oil fields

(Zaman Al Wasl)- Satellite images showed a new air base for the U.S. army in an oil-rich area south of Hasaka province.

The presence of U.S. troops in northern Syria was initially meant to help train and support Kurdish-dominated local forces fighting the Islamic State group but the U.S. base near oilfields may tell more about the American plans to secure its interests in Syria.

Mahmoud Ibrahim Al-Moayyed, head of the Research and Studies Unit at the Center for Barq Consultancy, said the helicopter base in al-Shaddadi region, 60 km (40 miles) south of hassock city is to allow rapid intervention, counterterrorism, and protecting the stations operating in Jabsa oilfields.

These capabilities are considered as a ground operation base with air landing capabilities, according to the military researcher, he added.

More U.S. forces have stationed near main oil fields of Rmailan in northeastern Syria.

The American military presence is no longer a secret after the American forces openly based the Kurdish forces in the north and east of the country under the heading of fighting terrorism. The American military presence is also no longer limited to elite and special forces and has extended to military bases which some predict will remain under American control, according to AP.

The number of US troops has grown gradually. Although the official limit on U.S. troops has remained at 503 since shortly before President Barack Obama left office, the actual number is now believed to be more than 1,500, including special forces, a Marine artillery unit, forward air controllers and others. They are spread across more than a dozen bases in northern Syria.

The end of the fight against IS takes away any legal justification for the presence of U.S. troops in Syria, but U.S. officials are now suggesting they plan to maintain a U.S. troop presence in the north until an overall settlement for the war is found. That has raised concern about a more permanent project that risks drawing the U.S. into a conflict with Syria and Assad's ally, Iran. (AP contributed this report)

Zaman A Wasl