This article is 5 yrs old. No doubt the bases have gotten larger and more entrenched. The location of the US bases, make clear Turkey is being targeted by the US and it’s PKK/YPG allies. At the link there is a map showing the location of and aerial images of the bases. Please take a look at all the images. As I’d mentioned previously the US has many more bases in Syria, up along the Turkish border in particular.
The one at the Lafarge Cement plant has a very interesting back story. It was used by ISIS to attack Syria, with full knowledge of the French government. I’ll dig something up from my former site on that curious chapter of the destruction of Syria. Everyone should understand that ISIS and the PKK/YPG are fully supported by the US/Israel largely. France as well.
Link
(Zaman Al Wasl)- Foreign presence on the Syrian soil has always been the focus of media and research institutions. In this study, prepared by a specialized military researcher, we examine the changes that occurred with the existence of these bases, since late 2017 when Zaman al-Wasl last published a comprehensive study.
Over the past two years, 2018-2019, US bases (coalition forces) and other forces in Syria have undergone significant changes in one of the following areas:
- Establishing new bases that did not exist before.
- Expanding and consolidating some older bases.
- Definitive evacuation of certain bases.
- Moving some bases to different areas.
This report includes details of developments in the US bases in northern Syria, and in the area currently controlled by the US-backed Kurdish YPG militia, in light of Turkey’s desire to establish a safe zone within the Syrian border extending for tens of kilometers.
Turkey’s urgent desire to establish a safe zone within Syrian borders will be hampered by the positions of these bases, some of
which are only a few kilometers from the border, some of which have been built relatively recently.
Therefore the American promise to Turkey to cooperate in establishing such an area is merely a political exercise to buy time.
In plain talk the US is lying to Turkey. In the same way the US and the EU lied to Russia.
In fact, these bases reveal that America is preparing for a long-term stay in Syria, and will not leave in the near future, as President Donald Trump claimed recently.
It is worth mentioning that some of the new bases are not bases in the military sense, but more like “civil administration” centers.
As it turns out there are actually 2,000 US troops in Syria- The previous disinformation/fake news had the number at 900.
The Defense Department today announced that there are approximately 2,000 U.S. troops deployed to Syria, which is roughly 1,100 more than had been reported in the past.
Back to the bases in Syria, many snugged right up to Turkey’s border
-New constructions inside the US Tal Baydar base:
US forces are currently constructing and expanding new facilities inside the US base at Tal Baydar, including the expansion of the old airstrip to about 900m. Construction is still going on at the moment, and at this length the runway is sufficient for the landing of all types of cargo aircrafts and various warplanes. This base is 30 kilometers from the Turkish border.
-New Jabal (Mount) Al Ghoul Base:
A relatively new base, which was completed in 2018, includes an airstrip and a support camp, as well as being a logistical headquarters. It is the most secretive base, both in terms of the size of the troops and the function assigned to them. The runway is 1,800 meters long, the base is semi-fixed, 30 km from the Turkish border.
-New base in Khabur west of Hasaka (as a replacement to Life Stone Resort base):
Troops were relocated west of Hasaka, where the airbase at the Life Stone resort was evacuated from aircraft and helicopters, while some ground troops remained.
A new base was established to the south, near the Khabur Dam. This new base contains ground and air support forces, in addition to a number of support and landing helicopters.
-Shadadi Base:
One of the largest American bases in Syria, established by the US army forces after the expulsion of the Daesh (ISIS) from the town of Shadadi, and is a focal point for the US strike forces there. It includes a camp for Marines as well as an airbase of eight attack helicopters, in addition to being a logistics base for US troops and Kurdish forces operating there. The base extends for four kilometers and two kilometers in width.
The Americans have deliberately set up the base near the most important oil fields in the region, the field of Al Jabsa and Kubaiba field.
-A major alteration of the shared base in Lafarge Cement Factory:
This year, Coalition forces have significantly expanded the base at Lafarge Cement Plant, which is currently the largest base for US and Coalition forces in military and logistical terms, with eight US helicopters and six French helicopters in the base, forming a large strike force.
Some call it Kharab Ashiq base in reference to the nearby village, only 20 km from the Turkish border.
-Significant expansion of the logistics base at Ain Issa:
Since the beginning of this year, the Americans have expanded the base of Ain Issa over a very large area. The base is dedicated to logistical support and various logistics operations, affiliated with several separate and spaced centers surrounding it as ammunition and logistics depots.
–Mobilizing additional forces at Tal al-Saman base north of Raqqa:
Tal al-Saman base is located north of Raqqa and was established in 2017. It contains a helipad for warplanes and fixed-wing transport aircrafts, in addition to being a large military base with the US forces recently transferring a large number of ground forces and armored vehicles. The base is also a center for surveillance, spying and jamming.
Herqla base west of Raqqa:
It was expanded over the past year to become a US military base. It is more of a civil administration for the administrative work of the Kurdish forces supervised by US forces.
New Bersan base southwest of Mahmudli town:
Established in 2018 and located south of the town of Bersan, north of Tabqa. It is a headquarters for the US artillery forces, in addition to being a logistics center for the forces deployed near that area.
Expansion of the base near al-Hakko village:
The base is one of the largest US bases in Syrian, located north of the town of Sarrin, and contains a landing pad for fixed-wing aircrafts. It includes a camp for ground forces and landing and support forces, in addition to logistics headquarters.
Several warehouses affiliated with the base were recently built outside the base, inside the villages and towns surrounding the area.
New base southwest of Manbij:
Once a very small base, but in the light of tension and friction in the region between different parties (Kurds – regime – Turkey – Iran), US forces expanded it significantly to support the Kurdish forces, block the road on all sides, and resolve the conflict in favor of the Kurds. It was established Southwest of Manbij near the main road between Al Bab and Manbij.
This base is about 28 km from the Turkish border.
New US base north of Manbij (Al-Dadat):
Located north of Manbij, about 9 km near the town of Dadat, has been expanded significantly over the past two years, 17 km away from the Turkish border. In April 2019, it was supplied with an air balloon for surveillance.
Other Bases:
In addition to the above, there are several American bases that are relatively smaller in scale:
Al-Tanf Base: a joint British and US base located on the Syrian-Jordanian-Iraqi border triangle.
Abu Hajar Heliport near Rumailan: for the protection of the Rumailan fields.
Kharab Al-Jir landing pad near Malikiyah in the far northeast.
US bases with small forces with around 50 US soldiers in each base (Malikiyah – Ain al-Arab, and Tal Abyad and others).
US Marines inside SDF camps for training, planning and supervision.
US forces inside Koniko gas factory near Deir Ezzor
Small forces in the Omar field.
Al – Mabrouka Base: Near the Turkish border, a small base comprising only about 100 US soldiers.
10 replies on ““At least 16 U.S. bases to secure Syria’s oil fields” and Target Turkey!”
Great findings Penny. Hope you’re well.
I know you are busy but have you had much time to look into the recent events in Germany? Yesterday, a Saudi psychiatrist apparently drove into a Xmas market in Germany, killing and injuring many. Apparently, he was Islamophobic and he supported the PKK and Israel. Wth is going on?!
The demonisation of Turkey has ramped up in the UK.
This week, a ‘Turkish’ heroin drug lord won his right not to be deported back to Turkey from the UK. He was an Alevi Kurd who said he would be persecuted if he was deported. Apparently he controlled a lot of the heroin being brought to the UK. No doubt he was another PKK goon.
Yes, I’ve seen the news on the Saudi psychiatrist
An atheist, zionist ideology, very supportive of Israel.
Loved Gert Wilders and other zionists.
And, amazingly he was featured on the BBC
Let’s not forget he was wanted in Saudi Arabia- they warned Germany and tried to have him extradited, but Germany refused.
Do you think it was all planned?
I wonder what he was up to that the Saudi government wanted him back.
They are definitely trying to create more division between the left and the ‘far right’ in Europe. I think they are shooting 2 birds with one stone with this attach: create more anti-immigrant sentiment (division) while at the same time demonizing the ‘far right’. They want to lump anyone who disagrees with the establishment as ‘far right’.
“I think they are shooting 2 birds with one stone with this attach: create more anti-immigrant sentiment (division) while at the same time demonizing the ‘far right’
That’s definitely the impression I’m getting.
The story goes he was wanted for rape in Saudi Arabia, don’t know how true that is?
Wouldn’t surprise me if he was wanted for that type of crime. He was obviously not right in the end-ironic that he became a psychiatrist.
I have started to see a shift in terrorism/attacks on European soil with the attackers not being linked to jihadists and then later trying to link them.
I think I mentioned about the 3 girls who got stabbed in Southport, UK. Not too far from where I grew up. Initially, when it happened, people started speculating that it was a ‘Muslim terrorist’ and we didn’t know who it was as the attacker was under 18 but reported as a ‘Welsh choir boy’. Lots of riots/protests started in the UK after this attack. Anyone protesting against mass immigration was labelled a ‘far riot thug’ basically. Then they said he was born to Rwandan parents. Rwanda is almost all Christian so then they said it wasn’t terrorism. And then not long ago they apparently found an Al Qaeda training manual in his room, leading people to think he was a Muslim. I think it was another attack to stir up tension between people because after this attacj, the right were saying that ‘we knew it. They were hiding that he was a Muslim.’ I don’t think the lad who did the attack had any links to Islam. Rwandans are Christian. They just want to pin it on Muslims to stir up hatred against both Muslims and the ‘far right’ who started protesting. Basically, there is no middle ground in Western Europe anymore. You’re either a liberal or a ‘far right’ if you dare speak out against mass immigration/destruction of cultures, societal decline, lgbt, etc.
What’s not to say in a couple of months time they won’t try and claim this guy was also linked to some Islamic extremist?
https://twitter.com/Salansar1/status/1870406894931571099
the BBC clip can be viewed at the link above
[…] “At least 16 U.S. bases to secure Syria’s oil fields” and Target Turkey! […]
Want to add some additional thoughts about the incident in Germany
I”m seeing this as the start of a demonization campaign against or to target the self identified right-
The protest in the UK revolved around this concept- protestors being extremist right wingers, some were, but not all!
There was something else that occurred previously that made me think this is the new demonization direction the powers that shouldn’t be are headed in.
Around the time of the Trump assassination attempts there was noise made about those on the right being terrorists.
Divide the right? Extremist vs Moderate?
https://pennyforyourthoughts2.ca/2024/07/15/white-domestic-terrorism-the-trump-shooting-divide-the-right-divide-the-vote/
Now this incident at the Christmas Market- the guy was anti islam, pro Israel, ultra zionist, followed many of the right wing leaders
Gert Wilders
Tommy Robinson
I could be wrong, of course, but considering all the recent elections in the EU pivoting to the right- This type of activity will be a good way to split those on the self identified right- Cause no one wants to be an extremist?
I agree with what you are saying. It is to divide people even further.
What I notice is that the ‘far right’ are even more pro-Israel and anti-Turkey. I don’t know if you’ve heard of a far-right racist group called Britain First in the UK. They really are a bunch of thugs and were always seen as some drunk idiots attacking Muslims. One of its leaders Paul Golding has been getting some support on Twitter lately. He is very anti-Islam and anti-immigration. He’s been spreading lots of pro-Kurd and anti-Turk propaganda on his page recently. How can you support Kurds when you are so anti Islam?!
Overall, I just think it’s a tactic to divide people further. Geery Wilders/Nigel Farage would be no different to the status quo if they came to power. They just have a different way of presenting themselves but they support similar foreign policies to the left.
“It was almost eight years to the day since an Islamist terrorist had slammed a stolen lorry at speed into a Christmas market on Berlin’s Breitscheidplatz, killing 12 and injuring many more.“
https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/21/magdeburg-mourns-christmas-market-dead