So the Americans with help from the PKK/SDF are funneling 140,000 barrels of crude oil a day. That's approx $8 MILLION dollars a day.
They're smuggling the oil through Iraq, where there are Shia militias. Now one might wonder, why doesn't the Syrian government coordinate with Iran and 1) target the convoys going through Iraq 1) Use Kamikazi UAVs to target the oil fields controlled by the Americans ?
Well the answer to that question isn't as simple as it first appears. The Syrian government is stuck between a rock and a hard place. They've gone through 10 years of endless warfare that ravaged their country. Now rebel activity is flaring up again in Daara, probably sponsored by Israel. Then there's ISIS, hiding in the Syrian desert, still using guerilla warfare / hit and run tactics. Then there's the Americans who occupy territory and who WILL retaliate with airstrikes if provoked. Then there's the Turks who are also occupying Syrian territory by sponsoring their headchoppers.
There's a famous saying, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" and right now the situation in Syria is as complicated as ever. The PKK/SDF are stealing Syrian oil with the Americans but they are doing a great job actively fighting the Turkish proxies. In the last few days they launched a rocket into Turkey itself, targeted Turkish army bases and killed dozens of Turkish proxies who desperately tried to advance near Ain Issa but were repelled numerous time.
Realistically the Kurds are much more proactive in tackling the Turkish threat in the north and recently they have been launching deadly attacks on a daily basis. So on one hand the Kurds are holding the line against Turkish expansion and on the other by both sides fighting each other, in a sense, they're both weakening each other as well.
Assad and Russia have been actively targeting the oil industry in Turkish controlled areas. Today they struck another oil facility west of Aleppo in Turkish controlled. territory. So right now Assad seems content to sit on the sidelines and hit the Turks where it hurts, their pocket.
The assassination of a member of the "Military Security" branch in Daraa countryside. Explore Syrian Civil War news on live map in English. Civil war and International intervention in Syria. War on terrorism in Syria
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Raqqa: Two Iranian militia members were killed in an armed attack on a military vehicle near the city of Maadan in the eastern countryside. Explore Syrian Civil War news on live map in English. Civil war and International intervention in Syria. War on terrorism in Syria
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Fires in a petrol station in the Sarmada region, north of Idlib, as a result of bombing by the pro-Assad forces. Explore Syrian Civil War news on live map in English. Civil war and International intervention in Syria. War on terrorism in Syria
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A video documenting the bombing by pro-Assad forces stationed in the 46th regiment west of Aleppo, which targeted with heavy artillery the suburb of Qusour Sarmada, north of Idlib, near the Turkish-Syrian border.. Explore Syrian Civil War news on live map in English. Civil war and International...
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By the way this area is a vital transportation hub for Turkish troops into Syria. Without it Turkeys operations in Syria would be at jeopardy.
Pro-Assad forces target with heavy artillery shells the outskirts of Sarmada in the northern countryside of Idlib. Explore Syrian Civil War news on live map in English. Civil war and International intervention in Syria. War on terrorism in Syria
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