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)
On December 11, local government supporters intercepted a convoy of the US-led coalition in the northeastern Syrian governorate of al-Hasakah.
another interception of a US patrol in the south of Qamishli by locals, whereupon the patrol consisting of several armored vehicles was forced to retreat pic.twitter.com/XOh3IVKqPQ
— Bosni (@Bosni_94) December 11, 2021
According to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency, the incident took place in the town of al-Matiniyah which is located to the south of the city of al-Qamishli in the northern countryside of al-Hasakah.
“A convoy consisting of several armored vehicles of American occupation forces, accompanied by vehicles of the SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces] militia, attempted to pass through the town of al-Matiniyah on its way to al-Qamishli city, [however] the locals stoned the convoy, breaking the windows of one of the vehicles and forcing it to retreat,” a local source told the agency.
This was not the first such confrontation. Over the past two years, locals, pro-government fighters and Syrian Arab Army (SAA) personnel in northeastern Syria intercepted dozens of US-led coalition convoys. In very few cases, limited clashes broke out.
On December 7, SAA soldiers and local government supporters intercepted a patrol of the US-led coalition that attempted to pass through the town of al-Salihiyah, which is also located to the south of al-Qamishli.
— Bosni (@Bosni_94) December 7, 2021
These confrontations, which appear to be planned, are meant to restrict the movements of US forces in northeastern Syria.
