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The US-led coalition was planning to expand a military base located near the town of al-Shaddadi in the southern countryside of al-Hasakah in Syria’s northeastern region, several Syrian news sources reported on July 24 and 25.
According to the sources, one of which is the pro-opposition Step News Agency, the coalition will also build a new ground to train fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces.
A supply convoy of 75 trucks carrying armored vehicles, weapons, equipment, logistics as well as construction materials, arrived in al-Shaddadi base on July 24, according to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The convoy came from Iraq.
On the same day, two US military helicopters, loaded with supplies and equipment, landed in al-Shaddadi base, per the Syrian Arab News Agency. The helicopters also transported a number of US service members.
Click to see full-size map. Via Google Earth.
Despite the official denial, the US-led coalition has been boosting its presence in northeastern Syria since the start of this year without providing any explanation.
Earlier this year, an airfield was built in al-Omar oil fields in southeastern Deir Ezzor. A large base is also under construction in northeastern al-Hasakah, near the border line with Iraq and Turkey. Furthermore, recent reports revealed that the US had deployed missile launchers, most likely air-defense systems, in the region.
The US-led coalition military buildup in northeastern Syria didn’t came without a cost. Recently, a series of attacks have targeted coalition’s military bases in southeastern Deir Ezzor. Iranian-backed Syrian and Iraqi forces were allegedly behind these attacks.
