Explosions Reported At US Base In Syria’s Al-Omar Oil Fields

U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment provide security support during mission on Sept. 9, 2018, at an undisclosed location in Syria. (Cpl. Gabino Perez/Marine Corps)

Late on June 28, a series of explosions rocked the US-led coalition’s base in al-Omar oil fields in the southeastern countryside of Syria’s Deir Ezzor.

The explosions took place inside the base, known as the Green Village, as well as in the sky over it. At the time of the explosions, a warplane, most likely of the coalition, was seen flying at a low altitude over al-Omar fields and its surroundings.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the explosions may have been the result of live-fire drills by the US-led coalition. However, this is yet to be confirmed.

The Green Village base came under attack on several occasions this year. While most attacks were blamed on Iranian-backed Syrian and Iraqi forces, the most recent confirmed attack was the result of internal sabotage. The attack, which took place on April 7, left four American service members wounded. A US airman is reportedly being investigated in connection to the attack.

In the last few months, the US-led coalition reinforced the Green Village base and several other bases which are also located in oil and gas fields in northeastern Syria.

Nearly a thousand US troops are reportedly present in Syria, with most of them deployed in the northeastern region. Despite recent attacks, Washington appears to be determined to keep its forces in the war-torn country for the long term under the pretext of countering ISIS.

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