US claims it shot down a suspected Iranian-made drone in Syria

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
15 Feb 2023 07:59

US military and its allies have at least 28 military facilities in Syria, spread over three governorates, under occupation: Al-Hasakah (17 sites), Deir Ezzor (9 sites), and Homs (2 sites).

An image published on February 14 shows an alleged Iranian drone shot down by US forces in Syria. (US Central Command)

The US military claimed it shot down an allegedly Iranian-made drone that was "purportedly spying on a major oil location in northeastern Syria."

In a statement, US Central Command said, "On February 14th, at approximately 2:30 PM local time, US forces in Syria engaged and shot down an Iranian-manufactured UAV attempting to conduct reconnaissance of Mission Support Site Conoco, a patrol base in northeast Syria."

On February 14th, at approximately 2:30 PM local time, US forces in Syria engaged and shot down an Iranian-manufactured UAV attempting to conduct reconnaissance of Mission Support Site Conoco, a patrol base in northeast Syria. pic.twitter.com/3GSf8odK3w
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 15, 2023

Iran has been subjected to drone attacks on its own soil, including a strike late last month that appeared to be carried out by quadcopters. The Islamic Republic has blamed the event on "Israel", the United States' closest ally in the Middle East, and announced the arrest of people engaged in the operation on Friday.

The big picture

The US has built quite a reputation with its thievery skills. After Iraq and Afghanistan, it was Syria's turn to fall victim to US hegemony that feeds on the wealth of other countries.

It is worth noting that the US military and its allies have at least 28 military facilities in Syria, spread over three governorates, under occupation: Al-Hasakah (17 sites), Deir Ezzor (9 sites), and Homs (2 sites).

Besides being an occupation force that backs armed groups for its own operations and agenda in the region, the US occupation forces continue to steal Syrian oil by smuggling it from their bases in Syria to their bases in Iraq.

Convoys of tens of vehicles, including tankers loaded with stolen oil from oil fields occupied by US forces in Syria, are frequently seen crossing toward northern Iraq, in addition to trucks loaded with military equipment.

The Syrian Oil Ministry has recently revealed that the US occupation loots the majority of Syria's oil, knowing that the daily production of the eastern oil fields is 80.3 thousand barrels.

This is all happening as the US continues to hamper international aid to war-torn Syria amid ongoing efforts to find survivors following the devastating earthquake that struck the country last Monday.