Syria Accuses US Forces of Smuggling Wheat, Oil to Iraq

A convoy of US armored vehicles in northeastern Syria (Getty Images)
A convoy of US armored vehicles in northeastern Syria (Getty Images)
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Syria Accuses US Forces of Smuggling Wheat, Oil to Iraq

A convoy of US armored vehicles in northeastern Syria (Getty Images)
A convoy of US armored vehicles in northeastern Syria (Getty Images)

Syria accused US forces of using a military convoy to smuggle stolen wheat to northern Iraq through the al-Walid border crossing in the Hasakah region.

The Syrian News Agency (SANA) reported that a convoy of 45 vehicles of covered trucks, oil tankers and a number of refrigerators left the Syrian territories towards Iraq on Monday.

The trucks were loaded with wheat from the silos of Tal Alo and left through the al-Walid crossing.

SANA said the American troops brought out a convoy of 27 military vehicles, including Hummer cars and armored vehicles, trucks laden with stolen wheat and oil tankers stolen from the Syrian oil fields.

Meanwhile, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) seized oil tankers that were on their way to areas under the regime's control.

Dozens of tankers belonging to the Katerji company were seen heading to regime-held regions and were seized upon their arrival at the Tabqa Bridge checkpoint, west of Raqqa. Some of the drivers were arrested for unknown reasons.

Eye of the Euphrates network reported that 250 tankers were transporting oil from al-Hasakah towards regime-controlled areas. Twelve drivers were held by SDF.

The network added that they will be transferred to the security investigation, without providing additional details.

Authorities recently dismissed Major General Nizar Ahmed al-Khader, the commander of the 17th Division and the head of the Security and Military Committee in Deir Ezzor.

He was referred to investigation over charges of oil smuggling and dealing with the US Army and SDF.

Meanwhile, the SDF, in coordination with the operations room of the US-led international coalition, carried out a military security campaign to track down active ISIS cells in Wadi al-Ajij, in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

A military leader said that the forces destroyed many hideouts, and uncovered roads and tunnels used by militants to smuggle weapons across the Syrian-Iraqi border.

An SDF spokesman, Farhad Shami, announced that the operation targeted a desert area where ISIS movement was detected and that was used to smuggle mercenaries and weapons into Syrian territory.

This is the second security campaign carried out by the SDF, with coalition air support, within a month.

The SDF had launched numerous campaigns to pursue ISIS remnants, however, they have yet to stop terrorist activity in the region.



Returnees to Lebanon's Baalbek Plan to Live in Tents Over Home Rubble

Residents check their destroyed neighborhood in Baalbek, eastern Lebanon, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Residents check their destroyed neighborhood in Baalbek, eastern Lebanon, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
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Returnees to Lebanon's Baalbek Plan to Live in Tents Over Home Rubble

Residents check their destroyed neighborhood in Baalbek, eastern Lebanon, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Residents check their destroyed neighborhood in Baalbek, eastern Lebanon, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Families from Lebanon’s Deir al-Ahmar and nearby villages celebrated the start of a ceasefire, which allowed them to return home. Packing their belongings quickly into cars, they left behind the hardship of displacement.

“The journey was exhausting... it’s time to leave this nightmare behind,” one returnee said.

Intense bombardment in Baalbek and surrounding areas had forced hundreds to flee their homes, seeking refuge in Christian and Sunni villages in northern Bekaa.

These host communities welcomed them, putting aside political differences. Now, the returning families express heartfelt gratitude for the hospitality they received.

Suleiman, one of the first returnees, said: “We didn’t want to burden our hosts any longer.”

He explained that families in shelters were starting to pack up for their journey home.

“We returned early, leaving some belongings behind in Shlifa. We’ll go back later to collect them and thank our hosts for their kindness,” he added.

The road to Deir al-Ahmar was packed early Wednesday with families heading home. Cars loaded with mattresses, children, and belongings filled the streets. For many, returning is the priority, even if their homes are damaged.

“I found my house destroyed,” said Mohamed, who had been sheltering in Yammouneh.

“I’ll set up a tent over the rubble and live there, even in the cold.”

Others shared the same plan, determined to stay close to their homes, even if it means pitching tents or staying with neighbors and relatives.

Deir al-Ahmar had hosted thousands of displaced people, offering homes and shelters free of charge. Around 12,000 stayed in local shelters, while nearby towns like Qaa, Ras Baalbek, and Arsal took in tens of thousands more.

Some families are also returning from Tripoli, where they fled during the escalation in late September. Mohamed Faitrouni, a driver from northern Bekaa, was thrilled to reunite with his family.

“My wife packed what she could the moment the ceasefire was announced,” he said.

“I’m grateful to the people of Qobbeh, who sheltered my family of eight. Nothing compares to the peace and safety of being home,” added Faitrouni.

Faitrouni is eager to reunite with his family, whom he hasn’t seen since October 4.

“My family is on its way back to Baalbek, and the real joy will be seeing my relatives and children again after more than a month,” he said.

He had to leave Baalbek when his neighbor’s house was destroyed. To keep his family safe from the cold, he rented a modest home in Qobbeh for $300 a month.

“I had to find a safe place to protect my family from the winter,” Faitrouni said.