US Forces Establish Third Military Base in Syria's Qamishli

A US patrol in Qamishli’s countryside in Hasakah on April 20, 2022. (AFP)
A US patrol in Qamishli’s countryside in Hasakah on April 20, 2022. (AFP)
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US Forces Establish Third Military Base in Syria's Qamishli

A US patrol in Qamishli’s countryside in Hasakah on April 20, 2022. (AFP)
A US patrol in Qamishli’s countryside in Hasakah on April 20, 2022. (AFP)

US forces established a third military base in Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakah on Saturday, a war monitor reported.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the new military base was set up in Naqara village, three kilometers southwest of Qamishli city in Hasakah province.

The two other bases are in Himo village, which is located nearly four kilometers northwest of Qamishli, and Tel Fares area, which is located nearly three kilometers to the southwest of Qamishli, adjacent to the end of the runway of Qamishli Airport.

Separately, reliable SOHR sources in Deir Ezzor’s countryside reported that Iran-backed militias have been redeployed in the area, fearing possible attacks by international coalition reconnaissance drones on their positions.

They confirmed that explosions that rocked al-Omar oil field base in Deir Ezzor’s countryside were caused by military drills by coalition forces in the base.



France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
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France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)

Paris declined to comment on Algeria’s “strong condemnation” of the French government’s decision to recognize Morocco’s claim over the Sahara.

The office of the French Foreign Ministry refused to respond to an AFP request for a comment on the Algeria’s stance.

It did say that further comments could impact the trip Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is set to make to France in late September or early October.

The visit has been postponed on numerous occasions over disagreements between the two countries.

France had explicitly expressed its constant and clear support for the autonomy rule proposal over the Sahara during Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne’s visit to Morocco in February, reported AFP.

The position has helped improve ties between Rabat and Paris.

On Thursday, the Algerian Foreign Ministry expressed “great regret and strong denunciation" about the French government's decision to recognize an autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region "within Moroccan sovereignty”.

Algeria was informed of the decision by France in recent days, an Algerian foreign ministry statement added.

The ministry also said Algeria would draw all the consequences from the decision and hold the French government alone completely responsible.