US Makes Reinforcements at East Syria Base

US troops in Syria's Deir Ezzor. AFP
US troops in Syria's Deir Ezzor. AFP
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US Makes Reinforcements at East Syria Base

US troops in Syria's Deir Ezzor. AFP
US troops in Syria's Deir Ezzor. AFP

International coalition forces led by the United States have taken measures to make “reinforcements” at their military base in northeastern Syria two days after coming under attack by Iran-backed militias in Deir Ezzor’s countryside, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday.

“A convoy carrying logistic and military equipment has left the international coalition base in Koniko gas field heading to the coalition base in Al-Omar oilfield in east Deir Ezzor countryside,” reliable sources have informed the Observatory.

“We can’t say definitively who caused them or why the attacks seem to have stepped up,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday about the rocket attacks on the base.

“It is certainly possible that it can be related to” the nuclear talks in Vienna or the two-year anniversary of the Killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in a US strike at Baghdad airport.

The Observatory said that “unidentified” drones renewed their airstrikes on Iranian proxy positions in the western Euphrates region, targeting military positions in Al-Tabni area and Al-Masrab desert in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor in the early hours of Thursday, causing material damage and casualties.

According to Observatory sources, drone strikes were preceded by explosions, heard in several places in the eastern Euphrates area, near the coalition base in Koniko.



EU Announces Aid for Syria and Countries Hosting Syrian Refugees

This handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) meeting with EU crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib in Damascus, on January 17, 2025. (SANA / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) meeting with EU crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib in Damascus, on January 17, 2025. (SANA / AFP)
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EU Announces Aid for Syria and Countries Hosting Syrian Refugees

This handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) meeting with EU crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib in Damascus, on January 17, 2025. (SANA / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) meeting with EU crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib in Damascus, on January 17, 2025. (SANA / AFP)

A top European Union official announced an aid package of 235 million euros ($244 million) for humanitarian needs within Syria and for countries in the region hosting displaced Syrians, especially Türkiye.

Speaking alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday during a visit to Ankara after her trip to Syria, Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality, said that the situation in Syria was dire,

“The needs are dramatically immense. The humanitarian crisis is affecting millions of Syrians, and the EU will continue to work and to alleviate the suffering in response to the basic needs of the people," Lahbib said.

Türkiye hosts the world’s largest number of refugees, including up to 3 million Syrians.

“Türkiye’s hospitality for the Syrian refugees has been crucial over the years,” Lahbib said. “Türkiye’s role is crucial in providing humanitarian corridors for the EU to deliver emergency assistance to Syria.

“The region is in geopolitical turmoil, and it would be important for the European Union to work together with Türkiye and provide the adequate response by the international community.”