Scores of US soldiers wounded in N. Syria helicopter crash

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Jun 2023 08:58

The US Central Command says a helicopter crashed in northern Syria, resulting in 22 injuries.

US occupation soldiers drive a Bradley fighting vehicle at the countryside of Deir Ezzor in northeastern Syria, December 8, 2021 (AP)

An incident took place on Sunday that caused 22 injuries among US soldiers in Northern Syria, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on Tuesday.

Reportedly, a helicopter crashed in northeastern Syria on Sunday, wounding 22 US soldiers and requiring 10 to be transferred out of the area of operations.

"A helicopter mishap in northeastern Syria resulted in injuries of various degrees to 22 US service members. The service members are receiving treatment for their injuries, and 10 have been evacuated to higher care facilities outside of the CENTCOM AOR," CENCTOM said in a statement.

"The cause of the incident is under investigation," it added, explaining that there was no firing at the aircraft.

Since ISIS has been defeated in Syria and Iraq, many analysts argued that the reason why the US remains stationed in Syrian territory has been left unclear.

The US frequently loots oil from Syrian gas fields and transports them to other occupation bases in Iraq via illegal crossings.

The US has for long employed the alleged "ISIS threat" as a pretext to continue its illegal occupation of northeastern Syrian territories.

In early March, the US House of Representatives voted against legislation instructing Biden to end the US occupation of the Syrian Al-Tanf region and remove approximately 900 troops.

Currently, the US army and other foreign forces, participating in the so-called "International Coalition", occupy no less than 28 declared military sites in Syria, distributed over three governorates: Al-Hasakah (17 sites), Deir Ezzor (nine sites), and Homs (two sites).

Syria's foreign ministry said in December the US occupation forces and their affiliated military groups' systematic lootings of Syrian oil, wheat, and other national resources have amounted to direct losses valued at $25.9 billion and indirect losses valued at over $86 billion.

"19.8 billion US dollars of looting oil, gas, and mineral resources, 3.3 billion US dollars resulting from vandalizing and ransacking of facilities. 2.9 billion US dollars the value of damages caused to the oil and gas installations by the so-called 'international coalition' bombing of these installations," the statement detailed.

The Ministry then demanded the UN to once again adopt urgent steps to cease the violation of international law by the US and its allies and ensure compensation for these violations.