Syrian troops fighting against US-backed Kurdish forces have seized the Omar oil field, the country’s largest, and the Conoco gas field, in the province of Deir Zor, in the east of the country, authorities and security sources said on Sunday (18).
The takeover comes as allied Arab tribal forces advanced into the oil-rich region along the border with Iraq.
The conquest of oil fields located east of the Euphrates River, one of the main sources of income for Kurdish forces, was a major blow to the group, which, according to authorities, deprived the state of resources used by the militia.
The Syrian army continued towards predominantly Arab areas of northeastern Syria, controlled by the US-backed SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces), despite American calls for it to halt its advance.
A government source said the Kurdish-led forces were defeated after advances led by Arab tribal fighters, allowing the government and its tribal allies to advance into a swath of territory spanning more than 150 kilometers.
The area stretches along the east bank of the Euphrates, running from Baghouz, near the border with Iraq, to important cities such as al-Shuhail and Busayra.
Late Saturday afternoon (17), the army also took control of the northern city of Tabqa and its adjacent dam, as well as the important Freedom Dam, formerly known as the Baath Dam, west of Raqqa.
Syrian Kurdish authorities have not acknowledged the loss of these strategic locations, and it remains unclear whether fighting is still ongoing.
