US occupation cost oil sector losses worth $111.9bln: Syrian FM

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
14 Dec 2022 17:57
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The Foreign Ministry's statement comes as US occupation forces continue their systematic looting of Syrian oil, wheat, and other vital resources.

Syria reiterates its demand to end US forces' illegitimate presence.

Syria's Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that 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, SANA reported on Wednesday.

The statement clarifies that the direct losses are comprised of "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 indirect losses exceed 86 billion US dollars, which represents the value of lost production (crude oil, natural gas, domestic gas, oil derivatives, mineral resources) as a result of lower production than planned rates in normal working conditions, and therefore the total value of the Syrian oil sector losses has recorded 111.9 billion US dollars,” the Ministry added.

"UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, Alena Douhan, affirmed at the end of her visit to Syria last month that the coercive measures imposed on Syria amount to war crimes, increase the suffering of the Syrian people, and preclude any efforts for early recovery and reconstruction, stressing that it must be lifted immediately,” the Ministry mentioned in its statement, noting, "So what would be the case when these measures are accompanied by the systematic looting of Syrian wealth by the US occupation forces."

The Ministry further stated that Syria requests 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.

It called for ending the illegitimate presence of US troops, returning the looted oil and gas fields occupied by US-backed military groups, and the immediate lifting of unjust sanctions in order to improve the living conditions of normal people and provide appropriate conditions for the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of the displaced and refugees to their homeland.

Yesterday, The Cradle published an investigation that revealed that the US has recently increased its lootings of Syrian oil amid the Turkish offensive.

The report also states that the US has deliberately damaged Syrian soil by selling farmers adulterated grains claiming they are of better quality.

The #US has built quite a reputation with its thievery skills: After #Iraq and #Afghanistan, it's #Syria's turn to fall victim to US hegemony that feeds on the wealth of other countries. pic.twitter.com/Au1I01GhLF
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 22, 2022

The Syrian government sought to respond to this situation by launching a program that sells wheat and barley seeds at affordable prices.

In a tweet on December 12, the USAID agency blamed the climate for the damage, in an attempt to downplay the US occupation role in damaging Syria's soil.

Last year, drought, conflict, and low-quality seeds led to a below-average wheat harvest in northeast Syria, creating a seed shortage for the past planting season and concerns about future harvests and food supplies. 🧺 pic.twitter.com/mv9CGBZ329
— USAID Middle East (@USAIDMiddleEast) December 12, 2022

What is the US doing in Syria?

Besides being an occupation 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 US interference in the crisis-stricken Middle Eastern country continues to be exposed, from occupation to military agenda and the theft of oil.

Plundering Syria's oil resources & depriving Syrians of resources

It is noteworthy that Syrian state media has accused over and over again the US and the so-called "Syrian Democratic Forces" (SDF) armed groups of occupying areas in the vicinity of oil-rich fields, smuggling resources to Iraq, and then siphoning them out.

The United States has been for years supporting SDF militias against Damascus, and the US-backed forces are currently occupying parts of the provinces of Al-Hasakah, Deir Ezzor, and Raqqa, where the largest Syrian oil and gas fields are located.

The actions carried out by the United States constitute state piracy with the aim of plundering Syria's oil resources and depriving the Syrians of their own resources amid a harsh economic situation caused largely by the occupiers, the Americans themselves.