US May Be Expanding Military Bases Ahead of Syria Withdrawal

U.S. troops, which are supposed to be winding down their presence in Syria, appear to be constructing a new military base and expanding existing bases in northern Syria.

U.S. troops, which are supposed to be winding down their presence in Syria, appear to be constructing a new military base between Tell Baydar and Tell Tamr in northern Syria. The base includes a 1.5 kilometer airstrip. According to reports, the base will be able to house about 1,200 troops.

The U.S. military also expanded military facilities in the area of Tell Baydar as well as in the area between al-Hasakah and Tell Tamr.

On April 22, France’s President Emmanuel Macron said France is seeking to build a “new Syria” with U.S. help. Earlier, Macron claimed that he had convinced U.S. President Donald Trump to keep troops in the war-torn country.

The growing military presence of the U.S.-led coalition in northern Syria is consistent with the “soft power efforts” aimed at strengthening U.S. influence and countering Russian and Iranian efforts in the country.

On April 22, the U.S. Department of State released a statement saying that no assistance is to be provided to the areas of Syria under control of the Syrian government. The Department of State also blamed Russia for chemical weapons use in Syria.

A senior administration official was quoted in the statement saying:

The G7 ministers had a productive and useful exchange on a range of foreign policy priorities. For the United States, we emphasized three areas, specifically North Korea, Syria, and Russia. There was – on Russia, there was a, I would say, G7 unity on opposing Russia’s malign behavior, and the nations reviewed the steps that they have taken to counter the negative trends emerging from the Kremlin that threaten peace and security.

On Syria, the ministers recalled that Russia is the guarantor of chemical weapons in Syria and have failed in that role. The United States does not believe that any reconstruction assistance should go to any areas under the control of the Assad regime.”

It has become clear that the U.S. will oppose any reconstruction efforts in the liberated, government-held part of Syria. Washington clearly sees humanitarian assistance as a tool of political influence in the country.

Simultaneously, the U.S. is seeking a renewal of the so-called Geneva format of Syria negotiations, which have thus far been unable to achieve a favorable outcome. The Geneva talks are aimed at countering the Astana negotiations launched by Turkey, Iran and Syria.

Despite public rhetoric, the U.S-led coalition is expanding its military infrastructure in Syria and is preparing for a new round of diplomatic and military conflict in the country. According to some experts, if Washington fails to achieve its goals, it could even consider assasinating President Bashar al-Assad in order to sow chaos within Syrian pro-government forces.

Top Photo | A satellite photo showing construction on new military bases in U.S.-controlled  northern Syria.

Source: http://www.mintpressnews.com