Only one day after a dual Russian-Chinese veto at the UN Security Council thwarted a resolution to allow cross-border supplies and aid deliveries from Turkey and Iraq into Syria—presented by Germany, Belgium and Kuwait on Friday—near-simultaneous attacks believed to have been carried out by drones hit three state-run oil and gas installations in central Syria. Syrian state TV and the Oil Ministry announced the news Saturday. Supplies have been flowing into Syria without formal government permission across undesignated checkpoints, but that authorization is due to expire on January 10. Aid convoys have long been suspected, in the case of Turkey at least, of carrying illegal material into Syria, including munitions and weaponry destined for anti-government factions.

Whose Drones Were They—And Why Now?

No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks which were followed yesterday by an Israeli air raid which came from the direction of neighboring Lebanon. Israeli jet fired four missiles at targets near Damascus, Homs and Latakia. Three of the four missiles were shot down by Syrian air defense batteries, which also brought down two other drones armed with high explosives near an air base in Hama and the main Russian military base in Jableh, Latakia.

Terrorist groups particularly those operating in Idlib, Latakia and the Hama countryside have systematically escalated their drone attacks against military as well as economic and infrastructure targets in 2019, having received and modified hundreds of small drones from Turkey. The militant groups have also manufactured  scores of locally made ones than can carry a payload of up to six small high explosive bombs.

Saturday’s Drone Attacks Are Believed To Be The Work Of The US Or Israel

Saturday’s drone raids—believed to have been carried out by the US and or Israel—targeted three major oil and gas plants in different parts of Syria, including the Homs refinery, one of only two such facilities in the country. The attack set fire to various gas plants but was quickly controlled and extinguished a few hours later. The worst-hit facility is now repaired and running back at full capacity, a Syrian Oil Ministry source confirmed earlier Saturday. Such attacks, exacerbated by unrest and virtual economic collapse in neighboring Lebanon have brought on extra burdens for ordinary Syrians, whose lives have already been disrupted by the ongoing war.

Syria’s Fuel Crisis

Syria has suffered acute gas and fuel shortages since earlier this year as a result of Western sanctions blocking oil and gas imports. This problem is made worse by the fact that most of the country’s oil fields have been out of Syrian government control, particularly in tge Kurdish-controlled eastern provinces, with the direct military support of the United States. Syria’s oil and gas production capability has slumped by over 85 percent over the past eight years—from approximately 400.000 barrels per day to a mere 24000 barrels a day—depriving the country of its main national income source which is badly needed for survival and reconstruction efforts which will cost an estimated one trillion US dollars.

Moscow Pledges To Revive Syria’s Beleaguered Economy

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov met with Syrian president Bashar al Assad in Damascus last week. The two sides discussed mainly economic issues and Russian plans to invest in Syria and help in the revival of Syrian economy. Following the talks, Borisov reiterated his country’s intention to invest some 500 million US dollars to upgrade the old Tartous port on the Mediterranean, build a new modern port in the city and establish a vital railway line that links Arab Gulf countries across Syria and Iraq, all the way to the Mediterranean. These are projects that Syrians hope will help jump-start their country’s war-burdened economy.

Many observers and analysts have underlined a linkage of some sort between the fresh drone attacks and recent Israeli air and missile raids against Syria on the one hand and the frustration felt by many Western and Arab nations at the UN Security Council following the fourteenth Russian-Chinese veto of last weeks cross-border aid resolution. Linkage is also being made between the recent drone assault and Israeli raids and the crucial advances made by the Syrian army in Idlib over the past few days, freeing more than 42 new towns and villages in the southern and southeastern parts of Idlib from militants. A communique issued by the Syrian Defence Ministry today reiterated the pledge made by Assad and other Syrian officials on numerous occasions to uproot terrorists from Syria at any cost, and regain control of Syria up to the last inch. The weeks ahead promise some exceptional developments and achievements in Idlib, Syria’s last major battle to recover control of the nation.

L'articolo Syrian Oil And Gas Installations Come Under Renewed Attack proviene da InsideOver.

US troops guarding al Omar oilfield near Deir Ezzour, Syria’s largest oil installation in the northeastern province came under attack for the first time since President Donald J Trump announced that the United States was “keeping Syria’s oil” following his administration’s controversial decision to pull out most US troops from Syria in October; a decision that was viewed by many as a green light for the Turkish military offensive against Syrian Kurds in the northeastern parts of the country despite wide international outrage and condemnation.

No faction or force has claimed responsibility for Thursday’s four-pronged attack which targeted and destroyed some oil-plundering tanker trucks and at least one US military vehicle at the oilfield, and no official announcement of casualties among American soldiers or their proxy oil transporters has been confirmed. The significance of the attack lies in the fact that it took place soon after Syrian President Bashar al Assad had made it clear that there will be a popular resistance to the presence of US or any uninvited foreign troops in Syria, and his reiteration that “every single inch of Syrian territories shall be liberated”. Trump’s October 6 withdrawal move from Syria has shocked US Kurdish allies who felt abandoned and left in the open to face the advancing Turkish army and its overwhelming military power and drew wide international outcry as well as severe bipartisan criticisms within the USA itself.

Soon, Trump – already under mounting pressure stemming from impeachment procedures and corruption charges and suspicious communications with Russia and the Ukraine – attempted to make amends with his critics by declaring the Syrian oil feat and pressurizing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to curtail his military offensive against Syrian Kurds, with a “carrot and stick” approach. The latest attack on US oil-guardians in Syria is bound to put Trump under more pressure, given the unabated political campaign both against his characteristics as well as his problematic foreign policies. Trump’s image was severely tarnished last week after leaked footage showed leaders of Britain, France and Canada mocking him at a dinner hosted by the Queen on the margin of NATO summit in London. Trump was so outraged as the video went viral on social media that he cancelled a planned press conference and left London unceremoniously, it was reported.

How secure for Trump is Syria’s “secured’ oil”?

Thursday’s attack on US troops at al Omar oilfield and tankers smuggling Syrian oil into Iraq and Turkey followed an air raid earlier last week by Syrian and possibly Russian jets which destroyed a convoy of oil tanker trucks in the northeastern parts of Syria, put into question Trump’s claims that he had “secured” Syria’s oil. “We’ve secured the oil and, therefore, a small number of US troops will remain in the area where they have the oil,” Trump said during an Oct. 23 press conference. “And we’re going to be protecting it, and we’ll be deciding what we’re going to do with it in the future.”

Once again, Trump falters on his promises to the Americans and their allies in the region. US troops at the oilfield that came targeted from four directions are reported to have used all available firepower at their disposal to foil the attack but to no avail. Many Syrian and regional observers believe that Thursday’s daring attack was a clear message to Trump, his allies and proxy oil plunderers, and most likely just “the tip of the iceberg” of what lies ahead for US troops in Syria. The trap of “oil for blood” equation many American have warned against falling into in Syria, seems to have become a painful reality for the snookered Trump administration, with problems creeping in from every nook and cranny; Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Kurdish allies, Turkey and NATO to name a few.

A mini oil war looms in the Syrian offing

Syria’s oil production has plummeted by approximately 90% as a result of the nine-year conflict aggravated by a stringent chain of US-led sanctions against the country. Before the conflict that broke out in March 2011, the country used to produce 385.000 barrels of oil per day. The figure went as low as 14.000 BPD at the worst stage in the war. Although the oil and gas sector has made a humble recovery in recent months following the recovery by the Syrian army and its allies of vast sways of land that had been for years out of government control, much is needed for this vital factor to become fully functional.

The Syrian government has resorted to some drastic austerity measures in recent years and has been importing much of its oil and gas from Iran, Iraq and Algeria to make up for its plundered wealth. The war-torn nation and its badly damaged economy badly need oil and gas resources to maintain the minimum required economic as well as social stability and growth, and can’t afford to leave this essential wealth at the mercy of the Americans or any other foreign power forever. By hook or by crook, through diplomatic means and deals, or armed resistance to make good on its promise to protect its land and natural resources against foreign occupiers and plunderers alike. Thursday’s offensive on US troops and tanker trucks in northeastern Syria could trigger and signal a mini oil war or resistance movement to the American presence and looting the country’s oil in the days ahead.

L'articolo US Troops Guarding Syria’s Biggest Oilfield Under Attack proviene da InsideOver.

Whether it was merely symbolic, tactical or genuine, Trump might have in recent weeks withdrawn a good deal of US troops and equipment stationed in Syria for most of the nine years of Syrian conflict, but when it comes to Syrian oil fields, he appears to have dug deep in order to openly loot and plunder the country’s oil under an array of ridiculous pretexts. Paradoxically enough, Syrian president Bashar Al Assad praised in a recent TV interview, what he referred to as Trump’s openness about some of his sinister plots. Assad maintained that “Trump is the most transparent US president ever”.  One of President Trump’s few merits is this controversial “transparency” even when he is committing what many critics have described as “a war crime.” Trump made no secret of his plan to loot Syria’s oil reserves, and as one such Western critic put it: “He’s pulling back that curtain and just telling you the truth.” What does this mean for Syria’s oil, economy and future?

Oil and gas, crucial to Syria’s economy and recovery plans

The impacts from the Syrian government’s loss of control over most of the country’s main oil and gas fields throughout much of the nine years of conflict have been daunting. The fuel crisis, aggravated by a chain of US-led sanctions against Damascus, including import of fuel and related material or components, have posed a tremendous challenge for both the government as well as ordinary Syrians alike. Oil and gas revenues have been a crucial contributor to Syrian economy and the government plans to overcome declining living standards and alleviate the ramifications of a series of austerity measures taken in recent years, due to war-damaged installations, loss of control over oil and gas fields and the impact of stringent US and EU sanctions and embargo enforced against Syria.

Syria’s oil fields are concentrated in the province of Deir Ezzor, in eastern Syria, near the Iraqi border, and Hassakah in the north-east. The two regions have been out of government control for many years, and the country’s oil production has collapsed since the conflict began in 2011. Syrian known oil reserves, however, are relatively small compared with those of other countries in the Middle East. In 2018, Syria had an estimated 2.5 billion barrels of oil reserves, compared with Saudi Arabia’s 297 billion, Iran’s 155 billion and Iraq’s 147 billion barrels. In 2008, Syria produced 406,000 barrels per day. In 2011, production dropped to 353,000 (BPD) and had plunged to just 24,000 BPD by 2018 – a drop of over 90%. This figure has recently gone up following the Syrian army’s recovery of some oil and gas fields in the northeastern desert region.

Exchange of control over Syria’s oil and gas fields

In the course of conflict, the Syrian government lost control of most of the country’s oil fields initially to some Syrian opposition groups, later the so-called Islamic State terrorist organization (ISIS) who managed to seize most of the fields in eastern Syria, including the largest, al-Omar complex, in Deir Ezzour province. By year 2014, oil sales became one of the biggest sources of income for the radical terror group, earning about $40m a month from oil revenues in 2015, according to the US Department of Defence. Erdogan’s Turkey was a main accomplice and major, if not only, destination for Syrian ISIS-looted and smuggled oil.

Later on, control of the oilfields went to US-backed Kurdish militias, mainly SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) who fought ISIS in the region, and most recently to Uncle Sam himself represented by no one other than current US President Donald J Trump. Syrian oil and gas fields suffered considerable damage due to US airstrikes and recurrent battles for control of the strategic fields, between rebel and terror groups on the one hand, and the Syrian army and its allies on the other. ISIS terrorists destroyed much of the oil infrastructure when it became apparent that the oil fields would fall to Kurdish forces who took control of the fields and have been exploiting Syria’s national wealth for their purposes since 2017.

The Syrian government has had to resort to importing oil and gas, mainly from Algeria, Iran and Iraq, in order to compensate its lost or plundered wealth. The ongoing US and EU sanctions have made such efforts increasingly more difficult, and threatened a direct military confrontation between the US-led coalition and Iran over oil export issues and the reciprocal seizing of oil tankers earlier this year.

Trump looting oil on SDF behalf, triggers condemnation

Trump, who abandoned his Kurdish SDF allies and partners in the fight against ISIS in northern Syria and left them alone to face the Turkish army’s onslaught, is now trying to reimburse Syrian Kurds with revenues of oil ‘stolen’ from their own country’s national resources; a prime example of Trump’s generosity and despicable American double standards. Even some American and Western observers have described Trump’s Syrian oil ploy as “Blood for Oil”, a “Loot and Plunder War Crime” and a “Blatant Violation of International Law.”

The administration’s statements amounted to an admission that Trump plans to commit war crimes, wrote a number of critics on social media. “Just to be clear: despite Trump’s statements, oil in Syria does not belong to the United States or to Donald Trump,” tweeted political scientist Brian Klaas. “International law seeks to protect against exactly this sort of exploitation,” Emory University professor Laurie Blank told Reuters. Senator Bernie Sanders commented on Trump’s Syrian oil scheme: “Last I checked, Congress never authorized US forces to be deployed to secure Syria’s economic resources,” wrote Sanders. “Putting US forces in harm’s way for this purpose is illegal and unconstitutional.”

Right of protection benefit, or international banditry?

Following his controversial October decision to pull out most of US troops from Syria which drew much outrage and criticism from Kurds, American bipartisan politician and Western nations alike – many considered Trump’s  withdrawal decision a green light for the ongoing Turkish offensive against Kurds in northeastern Syria – President Trump, in an effort of damage, declared that he was keeping and reinforcing US troops in and around Syrian oil fields, and that revenues from looted oil will go to the SDF. ” We are keeping the [Syrian] oil,” Trump boasted in ensuing tweets and statements. ” This is a premeditated ‘theft’ of our oil,” President Assad responded in a recent interview with RT Russian television network.

The oil fields in question here cover some 70% of Syria’s national oil and gas sector and infrastructure and facilities in the eastern province, and most of these facilities are operating far below their pre-war production levels. Although the Turkish offensive in northern Syria has resulted in Kurdish forces losing control over vast sways of territory, most of the oil fields east of the Euphrates river remain under SDF control. The US administration claims that oil revenues have helped support Kurdish forces who use the profits for military purposes and to run a civil administration. Between Trump and some US hawkish politicians’ claim to a right of benefit from ‘oil they are protecting’, and President Assad’s branding of Trump’s action as “international banditry,” the Syrian oil saga is set to continue for some time to come.

L'articolo Blood for Syria’s Oil: Control, Loot and Plunder proviene da InsideOver.