SDF Capture Major Gas Field in Eastern Syria
The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces captured a major gas field in Deir Ezzor province from the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) on Saturday, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The Conoco gas plant came under full SDF control on Saturday, after days of fighting with ISIS militants in the area.
According to Al Jazeera, the Conoco gas field had the largest capacity of any in Syria prior to the conflict, producing up to 459 million cubic feet (13 million cubic meters) of natural gas a day.
Al Jazeera said that the SDF also captured the nearby al-Izba gas field on Saturday.
The latest SDF gains in eastern Syria are part of the group’s offensive against ISIS on the eastern bank of the Euphrates. SDF commander Ahmed Abu Khawla told Reuters that Saturday’s advance has brought his group within 2.5 miles (4km) of pro-government forces also fighting ISIS in the province.
Following the capture of the Conoco gas plant, SDF forces are now pushing to capture the nearby town of al-Suwar from ISIS militants, the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday.
Separately, the SDF also announced the formation of a civilian council to administer Deir Ezzor after ISIS is defeated, Reuters said. It appointed “one hundred tribal figures to meet and elect a council to run the province” on Sunday, Reuters reported.
Iran Launches Missile Strike in Eastern Syria
Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards targeted ISIS positions in eastern Syria with drones on Sunday, the Associated Press reported.
Citing Iranian state TV, the AP said that the strike destroyed ISIS bases and vehicles on the southern and eastern edges of Deir Ezzor, near the border with Iraq. It also said an unspecified number of militants were killed in the attack, which is part of a broader Iranian operation that aims to drive militants from the Syrian-Iraqi border.
Iran and Russia are supporting the Syrian government in their push against ISIS in Deir Ezzor province. Citing a Syrian military statement, Reuters said on Sunday that pro-government forces have captured at least 44 villages and towns in Deir Ezzor since launching an offensive against ISIS in the area roughly two weeks ago.
On Saturday, the Syrian army captured the town of Maadan in southern Raqqa, along the provincial border with Deir Ezzor, Reuters said. Government loyalists also captured two villages and one town from ISIS on the eastern bank of the Euphrates, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Sunday.
Turkish Parliament Approves Cross-Border Syria Operation
The Turkish parliament on Saturday approved a bill that would allow Turkish troops to carry out cross-border operations in Syria, Al Jazeera reported.
Turkish MPs had previously allowed the Turkish military to conduct cross-border operations in Syria for a one-year period from October 2, 2016, until October 31, 2017.
Saturday’s motion extended the mandate by one year, allowing the military to deploy in the war-torn country if it is faced with national security threats.
The move comes at a time when Turkey has agreed to deploy observers to enforce a de-escalation zone in Idlib province.
The Financial Times said on Friday that Turkey had already started deploying troops to the only province in Syria under complete rebel control.
Citing an unnamed official, the FT said that “troops with artillery and earthmoving equipment used to set up temporary bases started crossing into a buffer zone on the border between Turkey and Syria this week.”
Earlier on Thursday, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkish troops will maintain security inside Idlib while Russian troops secure areas “outside” the province.
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- Agence France-Presse: Syria’s Deir Ezzor Slowly Comes to Life After I.S. Siege
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- Agence France-Presse: Syria Drops off the Radar at U.N. Assembly