VT Damascus: With American acceptance, Moscow expanded its reach toward the Hasaka oil fields.

The Russian side expanded its military presence in the province of Hasaka, by expanding its spread in the northern countryside of the province, in a move that appears to be coordinated with the American side, which is spreading important bases and points in the vicinity of oil and gas wells in the region.

The Russian army expanded its military presence in the Syrian province of Hasaka, by establishing a new point for it, in the village of Qasr Deeb in the northwestern countryside of the city of Al-Malikiyah, located on the triangle of the Syrian-Turkish border, in an important move for the Russians in a strategic area, containing dozens of oil and gas wells.

Local sources confirmed that “a Russian convoy consisting of 5 vehicles and other vehicles carrying approximately 100 Russian soldiers moved from the Russian base in the officers housing in Qamishli airport towards the city of Al-Malikiyah.”

According to the sources, “the convoy entered the village of Qasr Deeb village, northwest of the city of Al-Malikiyah, and a military point was established in it,” adding that “the Russian military began installing radars and observation points inside the new point.”

In the same context, Russia continues to send reinforcements towards the city of Qamishli, in which there are reports of Moscow’s intention to convert Qamishli airport, to the second largest Russian base in Syria after Hmeimim Airport.

Russian interest appears in the city of Qamishli, given that it is located on the Turkish border, which is considered one of the largest countries of the alliance “NATO” the military rival of the Russian side.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the new Russian move is that it came with the support of American mechanisms that accompanied the Russian convoy and brought it to the Dib palace point, with the participation of patrols from the “Syrian Democratic Forces” located in the region.

These developments are consistent with the movement of joint Russian-American patrols on the Aleppo-Hasaka International Road, known as the M4 Highway, in the section linking Tel Tamr and Ain Issa, with the aim of preventing any violations from the Turkish army and the factions supported by it on the road.

It also came amid the confirmation of a tribal source that “the Russian side informed the elders and clan elders during a meeting with them a short time ago in Hamo village in Qamishli countryside, that there is an American intention to withdraw completely from the Syrian territories, within a short time.”

However, the new Russian presence in an area close to two important American bases in Al-Malikiyah and Rumailan can be explained in the framework of a Russian-American understanding, which allowed the Russians to expand their presence in Hasaka countryside, in exchange for a broad return to the American patrols on the M4 highway between Hasaka and Raqqa.

These developments coincided with statements by US President Donald Trump, in which he stressed that “the forces stationed in the oil fields of northern Syria will leave their positions when the Kurds can control it in some way.”

However, there are no data on an imminent American withdrawal, especially as Washington prepares to introduce the “Caesar” penal code against the government and the Syrian people, into effect, within two weeks.

Also, the American military reinforcements that continuously arrive in Al-Hasakah province disclose American intentions to expand their military presence to form new pressure on Moscow and Tehran in Syria.

Nana Lancaster VT Syria correspondent

Nahed is VT Damascus Bureau Chief. She is a member of the American Institute for Middle East Strategic Studies (USA) and serves as Assistant Director of Arab-American and Muslim Congress (Detroit, USA). She has a Diploma in English Literature from Damascus University (1987).

She’s also been a reporter for Turkish newspaper Aydinlik, Special Coordinator for Arab-Armenian International Law Assembly, Correspondent for Qatari News Agency, Al Ayam news Paper in Bahrain, Al Liwaa in Lebanon, Correspondent for Petra News Agency in Jordan, correspondent for the Associated Press in USA, and worked as a freelance journalist for CBS, ABS and CNN in Syria. She is fluent in both English and Arabic.