The U.S. military is secretly using its bases in Syria to steal the country’s valuable oil, according to a Russian official at the UN. Despite claiming to fight terrorism, the U.S. has stayed in Syria since 2016, occupying oil-rich regions and creating a “terrorist ghetto” around its bases. This operation has worsened Syria’s humanitarian crisis, with millions of people in desperate need of food and aid. As Syria struggles to recover from years of conflict, the U.S.’s actions have sparked outrage and raised serious questions about its true intentions in the region.
The U.S. military presence in Syria has become a major point of contention, especially regarding its alleged activities involving Syrian oil. According to Russian Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polanskiy, U.S. bases in Syria are being used to extract and smuggle oil from the country, which he describes as outright theft. He made these statements during a UN meeting focused on terrorism.
Polanskiy further claimed that the areas around these U.S. bases have turned into “terrorist ghettos,” where the local population suffers from severe humanitarian and food crises.
Since 2011, Syria has been embroiled in a brutal civil war, with various regions of the country falling under different controls. The U.S. and its allied forces took control of the oil-rich northeastern part of Syria in 2016 and 2017, ostensibly to combat ISIS. However, even after ISIS was defeated, U.S. forces remained, continuing to control Syria’s valuable resources.
Syrian authorities have accused the U.S. of stealing billions of dollars worth of oil and food from their land, deepening the country’s suffering. A recent example includes a convoy of 69 vehicles, including oil tankers and trucks filled with food, reportedly smuggled from Syria into Iraq through an illegal crossing controlled by U.S. forces and their allies. The Syrian government considers this crossing illegitimate, as it operates outside of its control.
The ongoing U.S. presence in Syria has drawn strong criticism. While former President Trump openly admitted that U.S. forces were there “only for the oil,” the current administration claims that their mission is to prevent the resurgence of ISIS. However, the situation is much more complex. The U.S. occupation has significantly hampered Syria’s ability to rebuild after years of war, especially since the region under U.S. control contains the majority of Syria’s oil reserves and fertile land.
Efforts to rebuild Syria have been further obstructed by severe sanctions imposed by the U.S. under the Caesar Act, which are aimed at pressuring the Syrian government by restricting its access to resources. Despite the challenges, Syria has received some help from Russia and Iran, which have provided food, energy, and diplomatic support. This assistance has helped the country survive, but it hasn’t been enough to reverse the extensive damage caused by years of conflict and occupation.
In response to the U.S. occupation, Iraqi militias have launched attacks on American bases in Syria. These attacks have sometimes resulted in injuries and deaths among U.S. forces, leading to retaliatory strikes by the Pentagon against the militias. Meanwhile, Syria continues to advocate for the complete withdrawal of U.S. and Turkish forces from its territory, considering their presence an act of aggression.
The situation in Syria remains dire, with the U.S. occupation contributing to ongoing instability, economic hardship, and humanitarian crises. Rebuilding the country will require massive efforts and resources, but the continued foreign military presence complicates these efforts and prolongs the suffering of the Syrian people.
