Syrian Army Confronts U.S. Forces In Northeastern Region After Raid In Government-Held Village (Photos)

File image.

On October 8, Syrian Arab Army (SAA) troops intercepted a convoy of the U.S.-led coalition in Syria’s northeastern region.

The convoy, which consisted of seven armored vehicles, was stopped by Syrian service members as it was attempting to enter the village Qusur al-Gharajinah in the northwestern countryside of al-Hasakah. After a brief confrontation, the convoy was forced to retreat.

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The incident came just four days after the U.S.-led coalition conducted a raid in the government-held village of Muluk Saray in the northern countryside of al-Hasakah. The target of the raid was a local shepherd, who allegedly smuggled weapons for ISIS.

During the raid, the commander of a local pro-government group affiliated with the Syrian Military Intelligence Directorate was captured because he opened fire at U.S. forces. This triggered many government supporters in al-Hasakah countryside.

The SAA and government supporters in al-Hasakah have been working to restrict the movement of the U.S.-led coalition in the countryside of the governorate for a while now.

The U.S. maintains hundreds of troops in al-Hasakah and the neighboring governorate of Deir Ezzor. Most of them are deployed at key gas and oil fields, supposedly to fight ISIS. Damascus and its allies have been growing frustrated with Washington, who is not apparently planning to pull its troops out from Syria any time in the near future.

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